Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/233



From this countrey of Popayan they trauell along till they come to the first inhabitants of Peru dwelling in a towne which ioyneth vpon the South sea called Quito. This towne I will leaue any further to speake of till I come particularly to intreate of Peru.

Onely I haue spoken of the two foresaid Prouinces, to the intent you might know, that there is a passage by land from Carthagena to Peru, which is about fiue hundred leagues through; so that besides the two hundred leagues which they goe vp the riuer, the other three hundred leagues is a countrey well inhabited and without danger to trauell in, iu[* in ]somuch that oftentimes postes are sent too and fro. But because it is so long a iourney, marchants vse not to trauell that way, but when they are inforced so to doe. If any forren Nation should become Lordes of the South sea, the king of Spain might haue his treasure conueyed vnto this towne of Cartagena from Peru, and so into Spaine. For in times past there being a rebellion in Peru made by the Spaniardes against their king, he sent his power to suppresse them through these Prouinces. This I write onely for that I knowe some Englishmen haue thought, that in taking the South sea, or Panama or Nombre de Dios from the king of Spaine, his treasure of Peru could not be conueyed vnto him, and that the king could not succour Peru, if it wanted helpe. Howbeit I doe here most certainely assure you, that there be many wayes to Peru.

But now I will returne to my former discourse. Vpon the seacoast of Tierra firma Eastward from Cartagena standeth a little towne called Santa Martha, betweene which towne and Cartagena the mightie riuer of Magdalen before named falleth into the sea with such a strong current, that by reason thereof it is knowen 20 leagues from the shore. Santa Martha is a very poore towne, because it hath often bene robbed by the French, and hath no trade but with a fewe Indians that dwell therabout.

Here beginneth that wonderfull long ridge of high mountaines couered with snow, which streatching through many countreys, runneth along the kingdomes of Peru and Chili, and continueth to the very streights of Magellan. These mountaines are seene with snow vpon their tops aboue thirtie leagues into the sea. At the foote of these wilde mountaines there is a valley called Tagrona, which is the richest place that is knowen thereabout: but because