Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/276

 [*Sidenote: Salsaperilla.] where it raineth, and here they gather Salsaperilla.

Here is also great store of timber, and at this place they build many shippes.

Hence the sayle along the coast to a small and poore towne called Puerto Viejo, which in times past hath bene rich with emralds; but now since these stones in regard of their plenty are growen nothing worth, this towne likewise is waxen very poore.

Below this village standeth another called La Buena Ventura: but whosoeuer go thither must needs meet with euill fortune, the place it selfe is so waterish and vnholsome.

Here abide not aboue 20 men, who serue onely to transport goods vnto a citie standing fiftie leagues within the maine, in a prouince called La gouernacion de Popaian. From Buena ventura and Popaian till you come to Panama there is no other towne, by reason of the high mountaines, the manifold riuers, and the vnholesomenesse of the countrey.

In this place doe inhabite the Negros that runne from ther masters, and vpon these mountaines was Oxnam the English Captaine and his men taken, as is before mentioned.

Beyond these mountaines standeth the citie of Panama, being a rich place, by reason that all the treasure which commeth from Peru is brought thither, and it consisteth of about foure hundred houses.

The coast running along betweene this city and Nueua Espanna is called Costa rica.

Next vnto Costa rica, which is a mountainous and desolate place, lieth the coast of Nicaragua, being inhabited by the Spaniards, and hauing many good ports belonging to it, and is frequented with trade and marchandize; but hauing no knowledge of the situation thereof, nor of the townes therein contained, I surcease to speake any more of it.

A certaine viceroy of Nueua Espanna called Don Luis de Velasco caused certaine ships to be built for the discouery of the Mulucos and of the coast of China: which shippes in sayling thitherward found certaine Islands 80 leagues distant from the maine land, which the Spaniards, according to the name of their king, called The Philippinas:

and hauing one of these Islands called Manilla, inhabited with a barbarous kind of people, they built a fort and a towne thereupon, from whence