This Towne of _Acasabastlan_ is governed by a _Spaniard_ who is called Corrigidor; his power extendeth no farther then to the Golfe, and to those Townes in the way. This Governour hath often attempted to bring in those _Simarrones_ from the mountaines, but could never prevaile against them. All the strength of this place may bee some twenty muskets (for so many _Spanish_ houses there may bee in the Towne) and some few _Indians_ that use bowes and arrowes, for the defence of the Town against the _Blackmore Simarrones_.
About _Acasabastlan_, there are many Estancia's of Cattell and Mules, much Cacao, Achiotte, and drugs for Chocolatte; There is also Apothecary drugs, as _Zarzaparilla_, and _Canna fistula_, and in the Town as much variety of fruits and gardens, as in any one _Indian_ Town in the Country; But above all _Acasabastlan_, is farre known, and much esteemed of in the City of _Guatemala_, for excellent Muskmillians, some small, some bigger then a mans head, wherewith the _Indians_ load their mules and carry them to sell all over the Country. From hence to _Guatemala_, there are but thirty short leagues, and though some hills there be, ascents and descent, yet nothing troublesome to man or beast. Among these Mountaines there have beene discovered some mines of metall, which the _Spaniards_ have begun to digge, and finding that they have been some of Copper, and some of iron, they have let them alone, judgeing them more chargeable then profitable. But greater profit have the _Spaniards_ lost, then of iron and copper, for using the poore _Indians_ too hardly, and that in this way, from _Acasabastlan_ to _Guatemala_, especially about a place called, _el Agua Caliente_, the hot water, where is a River, out of which in some places formerly the _Indians_ found such store of gold, that they were charged by the _Spaniards_ with a yeerly tribute of gold. But the _Spaniards_ being like _Valdivia_ in _Chille_, too greedy after it, murthering the _Indians_ for not discovering unto them whereabout this treasure lay, have lost both treasure and _Indians_ also. Yet unto this day search is made about the Mountaines, the River, and the sands for the hidden treasure, which peradventure by Gods order and appointment, doth and shall lie hide, and kept for a people better knowing and honouring their God. At this place called _el Agua Caliente_, or the hot water, liveth a Blackmore in an Estancia of his own, who is held to be very rich, and gives good entertainement to the Travellers that passe that way; he is rich in Cattell, Sheep, and Goates, and from his Farm stores _Guatemala_ and the people thereabout with the best Cheese of all that Country. But his riches are thought not so much to increase from his Farm and cheeses, but from this hidden treasure, which credibly is reported to be known unto him. He hath been questioned about it in the Chancery of _Guatemala_, but hath denyed often any such treasure to be known unto him. The jealousie and suspicion of him, is, for that formerly having been a slave, hee bought his freedome with great summes of money, and since hee hath been free, hath bought that farm and much land lying to it, and hath exceedingly increased his stock; To which hee answereth, that when hee was young and a slave, hee had a good Master, who let him get for himself what hee could, and that hee playing the good husband, gathered as much as would buy his liberty, and at first a little house to live in, to the which God hath since given a blessing with a greater increase of stock. From this hot water three or foure leagues, there is another River called, _Rio de las Vaccas_, or the River of _Cowes_, where are a company of poore and country people most of them Mestizo's, and Mulatto's, who live in thatched houses, with some small stock of Cattell, spending their time also in searching for sands of Gold, hoping that one day by their diligent search they and their children, and all their Country shall bee inriched, and that _Rio de las Vaccas_, shall parallel _Pactolus_, and stirre up the wits of Poets to speak of it as much as ever they have spoke of that. From this River is presently discovered the pleasantest valley in all that Country, (where my selfe did live at least five yeers) called the Valley of _Mixco_, and _Pinola_, lying six leagues from _Guatemala_, being fifteen miles in length, and ten or twelve in breadth; Out of the inclosures this Valley is stored with sheep; the ground inclosed is divided into many Farmes, where groweth better wheat then any in the Country of _Mexico_. From this Valley the city is well provided of wheat, and Bisket is made for the ships that come every yeere unto the Golf.