Amongst these fish is the shark, which cuts a man in two with one bite and swallows him.  These sharks come up from the sea by the Hozama River which flows past the capital of the island.  They devour numbers of natives, since nothing will prevent the latter from bathing and washing themselves in the river.  Many streams flow into the lake; the Guaninicabon, which flows from the north, is salt; the Haccoce flows from the south, the Guannabi from the east, and the Occoa from the west.  These are the most important of the rivers and are always full.  Besides them, a score of smaller ones also fall into this Caspian Sea.  Not more than a stadium distant and on its northern shore are about two hundred springs, arranged in the form of a circle, from which fresh, potable water gushes forth, forming an impassable stream, which mingles with the others in the lake.

The cacique of that country finding his wife at prayer one day in a chapel built by the Christians in his territory, wished to have intercourse with her; but the wife, alleging the holiness of the spot refused, speaking as follows, Tei toca, tei toca, which means “Be quiet”; Techeta cynato guamechyna which signifies “God would be displeased.”  The cacique was very much vexed by this Techeta cynato guamechyna, and with a menacing gesture of his arm said, Guayva, which means “Get out,” Cynato machabucha guamechyna, meaning, “What matters to me the anger of your God?” With which he overpowered his wife, but was struck dumb on the spot and half lost the use of his arm.  Impressed by this miracle and overcome with repentance, he lived the rest of his life as a religious, and would not allow the chapel to be swept or decorated by other hands than his own.  This miracle made a great impression upon many of the natives and upon all the Christians, and the chapel was frequented and respected by them.  As for the cacique, he submissively endured without complaint the punishment for his insult.  But let us return to the Caspian Sea.

This salt lake is swept by hurricanes and storms, so that the fishermen’s boats are often in danger and frequently sink with all on board.  Nor has any drowned body ever been found floating upon the waters or thrown upon the shore, as happens with those engulfed by the sea.  These storms provide generous banquets for the sharks.  The natives call this Caspian Sea, Haguygabon.  In the midst of it lies a sterile island called Guarizacca, which serves as a refuge for fishermen.  The lake is thirty miles long and twelve or, perhaps, even fifteen broad.

Another lake lies in the same plain and quite near to the former, of which the waters are bitter-sweet,[2] that is to say they are not pleasant to drink, but may be drunk in case of absolute necessity.  It is twenty-five miles long by nine or ten broad, and is fed by a number of rivers.  It has no outlet, and the water from the sea also reaches it, though in a small quantity; this accounts for its brackish