Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/376

 there is a stone in these Islands whereon whosuer sitteth shall be broken in his bodie. It is farther to be noted, that the people of these islands do gild their teeth.

In the yeere 1539. Cortes sent three ships with Francis Vlloa to discouer the coast of Culuacan northward.

They went from Acapulco, and touched at S. Iago de buena sperança, and entred into the gulfe that Cortes had discouered, and sailed till they came in 33. degrees, which is almost the farthest end of that gulfe, which place they named Ancon de Sant An*dres, because they came thither on that saints daie:

Then they came out a long the coast on the other side, and doubled the coast of California and entred in betweene certaine Islands and the point and so sailed along by it, till they came to 32 degrees, from thence they returned to newe Spaine, enforced thereunto by contrarie windes and want of victuals; hauing beene out about a yeere. Cortes according to his account, spent 200000 ducates in these discoueries.

From Cabo del Enganno to another cape called Cabo de Liampo in China there are 1000. or 1200. leagues sayling. Cortes and his captaines discouered new Spaine, from 12. degrees to 32. from south to the north, being 700. leagues, finding it more warme then cold, although snow do lie vpon certaine mountaines most part of the yeere. In new Spaine there be many trees, flowers and fruits of diuers sorts and profitable for many things.

The principall tree is named Metl. It groweth not very high nor thicke. They plant and dresse it as we do our vines. They say it hath fortie kinde of leaues like wouen clothes, which serue for many vses. When they be tender, they make conserues of them, paper, and a thing like vnto flaxe: they make of it mantles, mats, shooes, girdles, and cordage. These trees haue certaine prickles so strong and sharpe, that they sewe with them. The roots make fire and ashes, which ashes make excellent good lie. They open the earth from the root and scrape it, and the iuice which commeth out is like a sirrupe. If you do seeth it, it will become honie; if you purifie it it will be sugar. Also you may make wine and vineger thereof. It beareth the Coco. The rinde rosted and