waters.  The third fresh-water lake, called Painagua, exists in the same province.  It lies not very far to the west of the Caspian Sea.  North of this same Caspian lies a fourth lake, of small importance, since it measures but four miles in length and a little more than one in width; it is called Guacca, and its waters are potable.  South of the Caspian a fifth lake, called Babbareo is found; it is almost circular and about three miles in length.  Its waters are fresh like those of the other two.  As it has no outlet and its waters are not sucked down into caverns, it overflows its banks when swollen by torrents.  Lake Babbareo lies in the Zamana district of the province of Bainoa.  There is still another lake called Guanyban, near by and south-west of the Caspian; it is ten miles long and nearly round.  Throughout the island are numerous other small lakes, which we do not mention for fear of being tiresome by too much insistence on the same subject.  Nevertheless there is one more particular concerning the lakes and this is the last:  All of them are full of fish, and support many birds.  They are situated in an immense valley which extends from east to west for a distance of one hundred and twenty miles and a breadth, at the narrowest point of eighteen and at the broadest, of twenty-five miles.  As one looks west the mountain chain of Duiguni borders this valley on the left, and on the right rises the range of Caigun, which gives its name to the valley at its base.  Upon the northern slope begins another valley larger than the former, for it extends a distance of two hundred miles and a breadth of thirty miles at the broadest, and twenty miles at the narrowest part.  This valley is called Maguana and sometimes Iguaniu or Hathathiei.  Since we have mentioned this part of the valley called Atici, we must make a digression to introduce a miraculous sea fish.

[Note 2:  Lago de Fondo ... aquarum salsodulcium...]

A certain cacique of the region, Caramatexius by name, was very fond of fishing.  Upon one occasion a young fish of the gigantic species called by the natives manati was caught in his nets.  I think this species of monster in unknown in our seas.  It is shaped like a turtle and has four feet, but is covered with scales instead of shell.  Its skin is so tough that it fears nothing from arrows, for it is protected by a thousand points.  This amphibious creature has a smooth back, a head resembling that of a bull, and is tame rather than fierce.  Like the elephant or the dolphin, it likes the companionship of men and is very intelligent.  The cacique fed this young fish for several days with yucca bread, millet, and the roots the natives eat.  While it was still young, he put it in a lake near to his house, as in a fish-pond.  This lake, which had been called Guaurabo. was henceforth called Manati.  For twenty-five years this fish lived at liberty in the waters of the lake, and grew to an extraordinary size.  All that has been told about the lake of