_Petapa_ is a Towne of at least five hundred inhabitants very rich, who suffer also some _Spaniards_ to dwell amongst them, from whom also those _Indians_ have learned to live and thrive in the world. This Towne is the passage from _Comayagua, St. Salvador, Nicaragua_, and _Costa Rica_, and hath got great wealth by the constant goers and comers. It is esteemed one of the pleasantest Townes belonging unto _Guatemala_, for a great Lake of fresh water neer unto it, which is full of fish, especially crabs, and a fish called, Mojarra, which is much like unto a mullet (though not altogether so big) and eateth like it. In this Towne there is a certaine number of _Indians_ appointed, who are to fish for the City, and on Wednesdayes, Fridayes, and Saturdayes, are bound to carry such a quantity to _Guatemala_, of Crabs and Mojarra's, as the Corregidor and Regidores, Major and Aldermen (who are but eight) shall command weekly to be brought.
This Towne _Petapa_ is so called from two _Indian_ words, _Petap_, which signifieth a Mat, and _ha_, which signifieth water, and a Mat being the chiefe part of an _Indians_ bed, it is as much as to say a bed of water, from the smoothnesse, plainnesse, and calmnesse of the water of the Lake. There liveth in it a principall family of _Indians_, who are said to descend from the ancient Kings of those parts, and now by the _Spaniards_ are graced with the noble name of _Guzman_; out of this family is chosen one to be Governour of the Towne with subordination unto the City and Chancery of _Guatemala. Don Bernabe de Guzman_ was Governour in my time, and had been many yeers before, and governed very wisely and discreetly, till with old age he came to loose his sight; and in his place entred his son _Don Pedro de Guzman_, of whom the rest of the _Indians_ stood in great awe, as formerly they had to his father. Had not these _Indians_ been given to drunkennesse (as most _Indians_ are) they might have governed a Town of _Spaniards_. This Governour hath many priviledges granted unto him (though none to weare a sword, or rapier, as may the Governour of _Chiapa_ of the _Indians_) and appoints by turnes some of the Towne to wait and attend on him at dinner and supper, others to looke to his Horses, others to fish for him, others to bring him wood for his house spending, others to bring him meat for his Horses; and yet after all this his attendance, he attends and waits on the Frier that lives in the Towne, and doth nothing concerning the governing of the Towne and executing of justice, but what the Frier alloweth and adviseth to be done. There is also great service appointed for this Frier, of Fishermen, and other attendants in his house, who liveth as stately as any Bishop. Most trades belonging to a well setled Common-wealth are here exercised by these _Indians_. As for herbage, and garden-fruits, and requisites, it hath whatsoever may be found, or desired in the City of _Guatemala_. The Church treasure is very great, there being many Sodalities of our Lady and other their Saints, which are enriched with crowns, and chains, and bracelets, besides the lamps, censers, & silver candlesticks belonging unto the Altars. Upon _Michaelmas_ day is the chief fair and feast of the Town, which is dedicated unto St. _Michael_, whither many Merchants resort from _Guatemala_ to buy and sell; in the afternoon, and the next day following, Bull-baiting is the common sport for that feast with some _Spaniards_ and _Blackmores_ on Horse-backe, and other _Indians_ on foot, who commonly being drunke, some venture, some lose their lives in the sport. Besides this generall concourse of people every yeer at that time, there is every day at five a clock in the afternoone a Tianguez or market, upheld by the concourse of the _Indians_ of the Town among themselves. Besides the lake, there runneth by this Town a river, which in places is easily waded over, and waters the fruits, gardens, and other plantations, and drives a mill which serves most of the valley to grind their wheat. Within a mile and a halfe of this Towne there is a rich Ingenio or farme of Sugar belonging to one _Sebastian de Savaletta_, a _Biscaine_ borne, who came at first very poore into that Country, and served one of his Country men; but with his good industry and paines, he began to get a Mule or two to traffique with about the Country, till at last he increased his stocke to a whole Requa of Mules, and from thence grew so rich that he bought much land about _Petapa_, which he found to be very fit for Sugar, and from thence was incouraged to build a princely house, whither the best of _Guatemala_ doe resort for their recreation.