Of the situation of the city of Cali, of the Indians in its vicinity, and concerning the founder.

TO reach the city of Cali it is necessary to cross a small river called the Rio Frio, which is full of weeds and flags. This river is very cold, because it comes down from the mountains, and, flowing through a part of the valley, loses itself in the great river. Beyond this river the road leads over extensive plains, where there are many small and very fleet deer. The Spaniards have their grazing farms in the plains, where their servants live, and look after the estates. The Indians come from their villages in the mountains to sow and reap the maize in the plains. Near the farms many very pretty water-courses flow through and irrigate the fields, besides some small rivers of good water. Many orange, lime, lemon, pomegranate and banana trees have been planted along these rivers and water-courses, besides excellent sugar-canes. There are also pine-apples, guayavas,[241] guavas,[242] guanavanas,[243] paltas,[244] and other fruits in great abundance. There are Spanish melons and legumes, but wheat has not yet been introduced, though I am told they have it in the valley of Lile, which is five leagues from the city; neither have they planted vines as yet, though the land is as well adapted for them as that of Spain.

The city of Cali is situated a league from the great river, near a small river of particularly good water, which rises in the overhanging mountains. Its banks are bordered with pleasant gardens, where there are plenty of the fruits and vegetables just mentioned. The city is built on a level platform; and, if it was not for the heat, it would be one of the best sites I have seen in any part of the Indies, for it wants nothing to make it excellent. The Indians and caciques who serve the Spaniards holding encomiendas,[245] live in the mountains. When I left the place there were twenty-three citizens who had Indians, and there are never wanting Spaniards who are travelling from one part to the other, looking after their affairs. This city of Cali was founded by captain Miguel MuÑoz in the name of his Majesty, the Adelantado Don Francisco Pizarro being governor of Peru, in the year 1537; though, as I said before, it was first founded by the captain Sebastian de Belalcazar in the country of the Gorrones. And some say that the municipality of the city obliged Miguel MuÑoz to remove the settlement to its present site, whence it appears that the honour of founding the city is in dispute between Belalcazar and the municipality, for the conquerors, who composed the citizens, declare that it was not known whether Miguel MuÑoz acted of his own accord or not.