Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
History
Spanish America, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Bonnycastle, Richard Henry, Sir
Latin America -- Description and travel; Latin America -- History
MAYO is a small district to the south of Hiaqui, and is bounded by
that province on the north, on the east by the ridge of mountains,
on the south by Sinaloa, and the west by the gulf of California. Of
it very little is known with accuracy; it is fertile, aid watered
by the river Mayo, from which it receives its name; this river
falls into the Californian sea in north latitude 27° 40ʹ.
SINALOA OR CINALOA.
SINALOA is the most southern province which is comprehended under
the intendancy of Sonora; it is bounded by the gulf of California
on the west, on the east by New Biscay, or the ridge or Cordillera
of Topia, also called Tepecouan, and Sierra Madre, on the north by
Mayo, and on the south by Culiacan. This country is about 300 miles
in length from the south-east to the north-east, and 120 miles
broad.
Sinaloa was discovered by Nunez de Guzman in the year 1552. The
climate is good, the air being very pure, the land fertile, and
producing abundantly grain, cotton, and fruits.
The rivers are numerous, though small, and well stored with fish.
Sinaloa is chiefly inhabited by Indians, though there are numbers
of mining stations established; and the province bids very fair
to be well colonized. The natives are a warlike race, and were
with great difficulty brought to submit to the dominion of the
Spaniards. They have caciques or chiefs, whose authority is however
very limited, being confined to heading warlike expeditions.
It is chiefly by valour displayed in battle, or hunting, that
they obtain this distinction; sometimes indeed the interest of a
powerful family elevates one of their number to the caciqueship.
They are fond of oratory, and if one of their number displays
any great ability in this art, universal acclamations decree him
their chieftain. These latter instances are however rare. Laws are
unknown.
Their weapons are bows, with poisoned arrows, heavy clubs of
wood and shields. These people are more industrious than their
Californian neighbours in manufacturing coarse cotton stuffs. Many
of the tribes subsist entirely by hunting and fishing, and have no
regular residences, neither do they till the ground. In the inland
parts these tribes are chiefly found subsisting by the chase; on
the sea coast they live by their industry, and by the fishery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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