ABSTRACT

Though Chiapa in the opinion of the Spaniards be held to be one of the poorest countries of America, because in it as yet there have been no mines discovered, nor golden sands found in the rivers, nor any haven upon the South Sea, whereby commodities are brought in and carried out, as to Mexico, Oaxaca, and Guatemala, yet I may say it exceedeth most provinces in the greatness and beauty of fair towns, and yieldeth to none except it be to Guatemala; nay it surpasseth all the rest of America in that one and famous and most populous town of Chiapa of the Indians. And it ought not to be so much slighted by the Spaniards as it is, if they would look upon it as standing between Mexico and Guatemala, whose strength might be all America’s strength, and whose weakness may prove dangerous to all that flourishing empire, for the easy entrance into it by the river of Tabasco, or for its near joining and bordering unto Yucatan. Besides, the commodities in it are such as do uphold a constant trading and commerce amongst the inhabitants themselves, and with other neighbouring countries, and from no one part of America doth Spain get more cochineal than from one of the provinces of Chiapa; the towns also being great and populous, by their yearly pole tribute do add much to the King of Spain’s revenues.