is a fountain of rosin, whence they take a rosin like tar, and it forms a little lake in front of the fountain which gives it birth, and there it thickens under the sun. The ships which pass by, take quantities on board, and with it they tar the ropes and the ship's sides. On this coast there are salt deposits within the water of the sea, where the ships that pass take in cargos. The Indians of that land, owing to the slight resistance it offers, cut it out in blocks, and these blocks are of very excellent salt. From Tumbez onwards to Cuzco the land is so destitute of trees that in many parts of the road no place can be found to tie up a horse. Besides the sheep there are plenty of deer, partridges, and other birds, different from those of Spain. The land is so rich and fertile that from the first escudilla of wheat they sowed at Lima, they reaped eight hundred, and from one fanega[1] they got eight hundred; and generally they reap three hundred to four hundred from one. All the products of Spain yield wonderfully.
The government of New Castille commences in the province of Catanez, which is north of Puerto Viejo, and extends to the river of San Juan. In the year 1536, this government was given to the licentiate Gaspar de Espinosa, who died at Cuzco in 1537, having gone to assist the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro, and intending to go thence to his government.[2] This news arrived at court when I
- ↑ Porringer.
- ↑ The licentiate Gaspar de Espinosa went out with Pedrarias to Darien as alcalde mayor in 1514. He it was who was ordered by the cruel old governor to sit in judgment upon Vasco Nuñez, the great discoverer of the South Sea, whom he knew to be innocent. He reluctantly found him guilty, but recommended him to mercy on the ground of his great services, urging that at least he should be allowed to appeal. Soon afterwards the licentiate was sent on that expedition in which Andagoya accompanied him, and during which he committed many atrocities on the Indians. He also went in the vessels built by Vasco Nuñez, as far up the coast of the South Sea as Cape Blanco, in Costa Rica, in 1518. Espinosa amassed considerable wealth, and he supplied
