Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/269



Hauing passed this plaine of Arauco, the next towne of the Spaniards that you come vnto is La Concepcion which hath beene the greatest and the richest towne in all Chili; but by reason that the Indians haue burned the same foure times, it is now growen very poore, and hath small store of people: it contayneth about some two hundred houses. And because it adioyneth vpon the plaine of Arauco, where these valiant Indians bee, therefore this towne is enuironed about with a strong wall, and hath a fort built hard by it; and here are 500 souldiers continually in garrison.

Betweene this place and Valparizo, the Indians call the coast by the name of Mapocha. Sant Iago it selfe standing 25 leagues vp into the countrey, is the principall towne of all Chili, and the seate of the gouernour: it consisteth of about 800 houses. The port of Valparizo whither the goods come from Lima by shipping, hath about twentie houses standing by it.

The next towne neere the sea side beyond this is Coquimbo, which standeth two leagues vp into the land, and containeth about 200 houses.

Next vnto Coquimbo standeth a port-towne called Copiapo inhabited altogether by Indians which serue the Spaniards: and here a gentleman which is gouernour of the towne hath an Ingenio for sugar: at this place endeth the whole prouince of Chili. Here also the mountaines ioyning hard vpon the sea are the cause why all the land betweene Copiapo and Peru, containing 160 leagues, lyeth desolate.

The first towne on the coast of Peru called Atacama is inhabited by Indians which are slaues vnto the Spaniards. But before I passe any farther I will here also declare vnto you the first discouerie of Peru with other matters thereto belonging, and then will I returne to the sea-coast againe: and to the ende you may vnderstand mee the better, I will begin with Panama. After that the Spaniards had inhabited the North side of this maine land, passing ouer the mountaines they discouered the South sea: where because they found Indian people with gold and pearles, they built a towne eighteene leagues to the West of Nombre de Dios hard vpon the sea-side, and called it Panama. From hence they discouered along the coast of Nueua Espanna: and for that Nueua Espanna