safe This Lake containes almost foure score leagues thirtie five in length and fifteene in bredth at the largest place There are many Ilands which in olde time were inhabited and tilled but now lie waste It brings forth a great aboundance of reedes which the Indians call Totora which serves them to a thousand vses for it is meate for swine for horses and for men they make houses therewith fire and barkes To conclude the Vros in this their Totora finde all they have neede of These Vros be such dull and brutish people as they esteeme not themselves men It is reported of them that being demanded of what nation they were They answered they were not men but Vros as it were some kinde of beastes There are whole villages of these Vros inhabiting in the Lake in their boates of Totora the which are tied together and fastened to some rocke and often times the whole village changeth from place to place So as hee that would seeke them now whereas they were yesterday shall finde no shew nor remainder of them or of their village The current or issue of this Lake having runne above fiftie leagues makes another Lake but lesse then the first which they call Paria and containes in it some small Ilands but they finde no issue thereof Some imagine it runnes vnder the ground that it falles into the South sea giving out that there is a branch of a river which they see rise and enter into the sea neere the banke having no knowledge of the Spring But contrariwise I beleeve that the waters of this Lake dissolve and are dispearsed within the Lake it selfe through the heate of the Sunne This discourse seemes sufficient to prove that the Ancients had no reason to holde that the middle region was inhabitable for the defect of waters seeing there is such store both from heaven and on the earth Shewing the reason why the Sunne without the Tropicks causeth greatest quantitie of waters when it is farthest off and contrariwise within them it breedeth most when it is neerest CHAP. 7. COnsidering with my selfe often times what should cause the Equinoctial to be so moist as I have said to refute the opinion of the Ancients I finde no other reason but the great force of the sunne in those partes whereby it drawes vnto it a great aboundance of vapors from out of the Ocean which in those parts is very great and spatious and having drawne vnto it this great aboundance of vapours doth suddenly dissolve them into raine and it is approoved by many tryed experiences that the raine and great stormes from heaven proceed from the violent heat of the Sunne first as we have said before it raines in those countries whenas the Sunne casts his beames directly vpon the earth at which time he hath most force but when the Sun retyres the heat is moderate and then there falls no raine whereby we may conclude that the force and heat of the Sunne is the cause of raine in those Countries Moreover we observe both in Peru New Spaine and in all the burning Zone that the raine doth vsually fall in after-noone when as the sunne-beames are in their greatest force being strange to see it raine in the morning And therefore travellers fore-seeing it begin their iourneyes earely that they may end and rest before noone for they hold that commonly it raines after noone Such as have frequented and travelled those Countriâ—s can sufficiently speake thereof And there are that having made some abode there say that the greatest aboundance of raine is when the Moone is at the full but to say the trueth I could never make sufficient proofe thereof although I have observed it Moreover the dayes the yeere and the moneths shew the trueth hereof that the violent heate of the sunne causeth the raine in the burning Zone experience teacheth vs the like in artificiall thinges as in a Limbecke wherein they draw waters from hearbs flowers for the vehemencie of the fire forceth and driveth vp an aboundance of vapours which being pressed and finding no issue are converted into liquor and water The like wee see in gold and silver which wee refine with quicke-silver the fire being small and slow wee draw out almost nothing of the quicke-silver but if it bee quicke and violent it doth greatly evaporate the quick-silver which incountring the head above doth presently turne into liquor and begins to drop downe Even so the violent heate of the sunne produceth these two effects when it finds matter disposed that is to draw vp the vapours on high and to dissolve them presently and turne them into raine when there is any obstacle to consume them And although these things seeme contrary that one sunne within the burning Zone being neere should cause raine and without the Zone afarre off should breed the like effect so it is that all well considered there is no contrarietie A thousand effects in naturall causes proceede of contrarie things by divers meanes we drie linnen by the fire and in the aire and yet the one heats and the other cooles pastures are dried and hardened by the sunne and with the frost moderate exercise provokes sleepe being too violent it hindereth if you lay no wood on the fire it dieth if you lay on toâ— much it likewise quencheth for the onely proportion entertaines and makes it to continue To well discerne a thing it must not be too neere the eie nor too farre off but in a reasonable distance proportionable being too farre off from any thing we loose the sight and too neere likewise we cannot see it If the sunne beames be weake they draw vp no fogge from the rivers if they be violent having drawne vp the vapours they presently dissolve and consume them but if the heat be moderate it drawes vp and preserves it for this reason the vapours rise not commonly in the night nor at noone but in morning whenas the sunne begins to enter into his force There are a thousand examples of naturall causes vpon this subiect which we see do often grow from contrarie things whereby we must not wonder if the sunne being neere engenders raine and being farre off works the like effect but being of a moderate and proportionable distance causeth none at all Yet there remaines one doubt why the neerenes of the sunne causeth the raine vnder the burning Zone and without when it is farthest off In my opinion the reason is that in Winter without the Tropicks the sunne hath not force sufficient to consume the vapours which rise from the land and sea for these vapours grow in great aboundance in the cold region of the aire where they are congealed and thickened by the extremitie of the cold and after being pressed they dissolve and turne into water Therefore in Winter when the sunne is farthest off the daies short and the nights long his heat hath small force but when the sunne approacheth which is in the summer time his force is
doth teach vs. But whether it be so or otherwise for I will not contradict Aristotle but in that which is most certaine in the end they agree all that the middle region of the ayre is colder than the lowest next to the earth as experience dooth shew vs seeing that in this middle region are congealed snowe haile frosts and other signes of extreame colde The middle region then which they call the burning Zone having on the one side the sea and on the other the mountaines we must hold them for sufficient causes to temper and coole the heate That the colde windes be the principall cause to make the burning Zone temperate CHAH. 13. THe temperature of this region ought chiefly to be attributed to the property of the wind that blows in that country the which is pleasant and fresh The providence of the great God Creator of al things hath bin such as he hath ordained fresh and coole windes in that region where the sunne makes his course which seemes should be burnt vp that by their coolenes the excessive heate of the sunne might be qualified And they are not farre from apparance of reason which held that the earthly Paradise was vnder the Equinoctiall If they had not deceived themselves in the cause of their opinion saying that the equalitie of the dayes and nights was sufficient of it selfe to make that Zone temperate to which opinion many others have beene opposite of which number was that renowmed Poet saying That coast incessantly by hotte beames tyred Of Phoebus who from thence never retyred The coolenesse of the night then is not sufficient to moderate and to correct the violent heate of the Sunne but rather this burning Zone receives so sweet a temperature by the benefite of the fresh and pleasant aire as notwithstanding it were held by the Ancients to be more hotte then a burning furnace yet those which inhabite there take it for a delightfull spring It appeares by arguments and very apparant reasons that the cause heereof consistes principally in the qualitie of the winde We see in one climate some regions and Citties hotter then others onely for that they feele lesse winde to refresh them The like is in other Countries where no winde blowes the which are all on fire like vnto a furnace There are many of these Villages and Townes in Bresill Ethiopia and Paraguen as every one knoweth and that which is more considerable wee see these differences not only on the Land but also on the Sea there are some seas where they feele great heat as they report of that of Mozambigus and Ormus in the East and of the Sea of Panama in the West the which for this reason engenders and brings forth great Lizards called Cayamans as also in the sea of Bresill There are other seas in the same degree of height very colde as that of Peru in the which wee were a cold as I have said before when we first sailed it which was in March when the Sunne was directly over vs. In truth on this continent where the land and sea are of one sort wee cannot imagine any other cause of this so great a difference but the qualitie of the winde which doth refresh them If wee shall neerely looke into the consideration of the winde whereof we have spoken wee may resolve many doubts which some obiect and which seeme strange and wonderfull wherefore the Sunne casting his beames vppon the burning Zone and particularly at Peru and that more violently then in Spaine in the Canicular daies yet they defend the heat with a light covering so as with a slender covering of mats or straw they are better preserved from the heate then in Spaine vnder a roofe of wood or a vault of stone Moreover why are not the nightes in summer at Peru as hotte and troublesome as in Spaine Wherefore on the highest tops of mountaines even amongst the heaps of snow you shall sometimes feele great and insupportable heat Wherefore in all the Province of Colao when ye come into the shade how little soever you feele cold But comming into the Sunne beames you presently finde the heate excessive Why is all the coast of Peru being ful of sands very temperate And why is Potozi distant from the silver Citie but eighteene leagues and in the same degree of so divers a temperature that the Countrie being extreamely colde it is wonderfully barren and drie And contrariwise the silver Citie is temperate inclining vnto heat and hath a pleasant and fertil soile It is more certaine that the winde is the principall cause of these strange diversities for without the benefite of these coole windes the heate of the Sunne is such as although it bee in the midst of the snow it burnes and sets all on fire but when the coolenes of the aire returnes suddenly the heat is qualified how great soever it be and whereas this coole winde raines ordinarie it keepes the grosse vapours and exhalations of the earth from gathering together which cause a heavie and troublesome heat whereof we see the contrarie in Europe for by the exhalation of these vapours the earth is almost burnt vp with the Sunne by day which makes the nights so hotte and troublesome as the aire doth often seeme like vnto a furnace for this reason at Peru this freshnes of the winde is the cause by the meanes of some small shade at the Sunnesetting that they remaine coole But contrariwise in Europe the most agreeable and pleasing time in summer is the morning and the evening is the most hotte and troublesome But at Peru and vnder all the Equinoctiall it is not so for every morning the winde from the sea doth cease and the Sunne beginnes to cast his beames and for this reason they feele the greatest heat in the morning vntill the returne of the same windes which otherwise they call the tide or winde of the sea which makes them first to feele cold We have tried al this whilst we were at the Ilands of Barlovante where in the mornings we did sweat for heat and at noone we felt a fresh aire for that then a North-easterly wind which is fresh and coole doth commonly blow That they which inhabite vnder the Equinoctiall live a sweete and pleasant life CHAP. 14. IF those which have held opinion that the earthly Paradise was vnder the Equinoctiall had beene guided by this discourse they had not seemed altogether deceived not that I will conclude that the delightfull Paradice whereof the Scripture speakes was in that place which were too great a temeritie to affirme it for certaine But I may well say if there be any Paradice on earth it ought to bee placed whereas they inioy a sweete and quiet temperature for there is nothing more troublesome or repugnant to mans life then to live vnder a heaven or aire that is contrarie troublesome or sicklie as there is nothing more agreeable then to inioy a heaven that is sound sweet
other great gulphes where wee saile vnder the burning Zone by reason whereof their sailes are always of one fashion without any blustring having no neede in a manner to change them in all their course And if the ayre were not mooved by the heavens it might sometimes faile sometimes change to the contrary and sometimes there would grow some stormes Although this be learnedly spoken yet can we not deny it to be a winde seeing there are vapours and exhalations of the sea and that we sometimes see the Brise or easterly winds stronger sometimes more weake and placed in that sort as sometimes they can hardly carry all their sailes We must then know and it is true that the aire mooved draweth vnto it the vapours it findes for that the force is great and findes no resistance by reason whereof the easterne and weasterne windes are continuall and in a maner alwayes alike in those parts which are neere the Line and almost vnder all the burning zone which is the course the Sunne followes betwixt the two circles of Cancer and Capricorne Why without the Zone in a greater altitude wee finde alwayes westâ—rly windâ—s CHAP. 7. WHoso would neerely looke into what hath bin spoken may likewise vnderstand that going from the west to the east in altitude beyond the Tropikes we shall finde westerne windes for that the motion of the Equinoctiall being so swift it is a cause that the ayâ—e mooveth vnder it according to this motion which is from east to weast drawing after it the vapors and exhalations that rise of either side the Equinoctial or burning zone incountâ—ing the course and motion of the zone are forced by the repercussion to returne almost to the contrary whence growe the southweast winds so ordinary in those parts Even as we see in the course of waters the which if they be incountred by others of more force returne in a maner backe So it seemes to be like in vapours and exhalations whereby it growes that the windes doe turne and separate themselves from one part to another These westerly winds do commonly raiâ—â— in a meane altitude which is from twenty and seeven to thirty and seven degrees though they be not so certaine nor so regular as the Brises that are in a lesse altitude The reason is for that the southwest windes are no causes of this proper and equal motion of the heaven as the Brises are being neere to the Line But as I have said they are more ordinarie and often more furious and tempestuous But passing into a greater altitude as of fortie degrees there is as small assurance of windes at sea as at land for sometimes the east or north winde blowes and sometimes the south or weast whereby it happeneth their navigations are more vncertaine and more dangerous Of the exceptions to the foresaid Rules and of the Windes and Calmes both at Land and at Sea CHAP. 8. THat which we have spoken of winds which blow ordinarilie within and without the Zone must be vnderstood of the maine Sea and in the great gulphes for at land it is otherwise where we finde all sorts of windes by reason of the inequalitie which is betwixt the mountaines and the vallies the great number of Rivers and Lakes and the divers scituations of Countries whence the grosse and thicke vapors arise which are moved from the one part or the other according to the diversitie of their beginnings which cause these divers windes the motion of the aire caused by the heaven having not power enough to draw and move them with it And this varietie of windes is not onely found at land but also vpon the sea coast which is vnder the burning Zone for that there be foraine or land windes which come from the land and many which blow from the sea the which windes from the sea are commonly more wholesome and more pleasant then those of the land which are contrariwise troublesome and vnwholesome although it be the differrence of the coast that causeth this diversitie commonly the land windes blow from mid-night to the sunne rising and the sea windes vntill sunne setting The reason perhaps may be that the earth as a grosse substance fumes more whenas the sunne shines not vpon it even as greene wood or scarce drie smoakes most when the flame is quenched But the sea which is compounded of more subtile partes engenders no fumes but when it is hote even as straw or haie being moist and in small quantitie breedes smoake when it is burnt and when the flame failes the fume suddenly ceaseth Whatsoever it be it is certaine that the land winde blowes by night and that of the sea by day So that even as there are often contrarie violent and tempestuous windes vpon the sea coast so do we see very great calmes Some men of great experience report that having sailed many great passages at sea vnder the line yet did they never see any calmes but that they alwaies make way little or much the aire being moved by the celestiall motion which is sufficient to guide a ship blowing in poope as it doth I have already said that a ship of Lima going to Maniâ—â—a sailed two thousand seven hundred leagues alwaies vnder the line or not above twelve degrees from it and that in the moneths of Februarie and March whenas the sunne is there for Zenith and in all this space they found no calmes but alwaies a fresh gale so as in two moneths they performed this great voyage But in the burning Zone and without it you shall vsually see great calmes vpon the coastes where the vapors come from the Ilands or maine land And therefore stormes and tempestes and the suddaine motions of the aire are more certaine and ordinarie vpon the coastes whereas the vapors come from the land then in full sea I meane vnder the burning Zone for without it and at sea there are both calmes and whirlewindes Notwithstanding sometimes betwixt the two Tropickes yea vnder the line you shall have great raine and suddaine showers yea farre into the sea for the working whereof the vapors and exhalations of the sea are sufficient which moving sometimes hastily in the aire cause thunder and whirlewindes but this is more ordinarie neere to the land and vpon the land When I sailed from Peru to new Spaine I observed that all the time we were vpon the coast of Peru our voiage was as it was ordinary very calme and easie by reason of the Southerne winde that blowes having alwaies a fore winde returning from Spaine and new Spaine As we passed the gulph lanching farther into the sea almost vnder the line we found the season coole quiet and pleasant with a full winde but comming neere to Nicaragua and to all that coast we had contrarie windes with great store of raine and fogges All this navigation was vnder the burning Zone for from twelve degrees to the South which is Lima wee sailed to the seventeenth which is Gautulco a port of
steede whereof they vse counting with their Quipocamayes the which is peculiar vnto them But which reckoning all they can report is not past 400. yeeres Instructing my selfe carefully of them to know from what land and what nation they passed to that where they â—ow live I have found them so farre vnable to give any reason thereof as they beleeve confidently that they were created at their first beginning at this new world where they now dwell But we have freed them of this error by our faith which teacheth vs that all men came from the first man There are great and apparant coniectures that these men for a long time had neither Kings nor common weales but lived in troupes as they do at this day in Florida the Chiriquanas those of Bresill and many other nations which have no certaine Kings but as occasion is offered in peace or warre they choose their Captaines as they please But some men excelling others in force and wit began in time to rule and domineere as Nembroth did so increasing by little and little they erected the kingdomes of Peru and Mexico which our Spaniards found and although they were barbarous yet did they farre surpasse all the other Indians Behold how the foresaid reason doth teach vs that the Indians began to multiply for the most part by savage men and fugitives which may suffice touching the beginning of these men we speake of leaving the rest vntill we treate of their Historie more at large THE SECOND BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That it is not out of purpose but necessarie to treate of the 〈…〉 CHAP. 1. FOR the well conceiving of things at the Indies it is necessarie to know the nature and disposition of that Region which the Ancients did call the burning Zone the which they held inhabitable seeing the greatest part of this new world which hath bin of late discovered lies and is scituate vnder this region in the midst of heaven And it seemes to me greatly to purpose which some do say that the knowledge of things at the Indies depends of the well vnderstanding the nature of the Equinoctiall for that the difference which is betwixt the one and the other world proceeds in a maner from the qualities of this Equinoctiall And we must note that all the space betwixt the two Tropickes must be properly taken and held for this middle line which is the Equinoctiall so called for that the Sunne running his course therein makes the daies nights even throughout the world yea they that dwell vnder this line inioy throughout the yeare the same equalitie of daies and nights In this Equinoctiall line we finde so many admirable qualities that with great reason mans vnderstanding doth studie and labour to search out the causes not moved therevnto so much by the doctrine of ancient Philosophers as by reason and certaine experience For what reason the Ancients held that the burning Zone was inhabitable CHAP. 2. EXamining this subiect from the beginning no man can denie that which we plainely see that the Sunne when it drawes neere doth heate and when it retyres groweth cold The daies and nightes with the Winter and Summer be witnesses heereof whose varietie with the heate and cold growes by the neerenes and distance of the Sunne Moreover it is certaine the more the Sunne approacheth and casteth his beames prependicularly the more the earth is scorched and burnt the which we see plainely in the heate of the South and in the force of Summer whereby we may iudge in my opinion that the farther a Countrie is distant from the course of the Sunne the more cold it is So we finde by experience that the Countries and Regions which approach neerest to the North are coldest and contrariwise those that lie neere the Zodiake where the Sunne keepes his course are most hot For this cause Ethiopia passeth Affrike and Barbarie in heate Barbarie exceedes Andalousia Andalousia Castile and Arragon surpasse Biscaie and Fraunce And the more they decline to the North the colder they are and so by consequence those which approach neerest to the Sunne and are beaten perpendicularly with his beames they do most feele the heate thereof Some vrge another reason to this effect which is that the motion of the heaven is very â—odaine and light towards the Tropikes but neere the Poles it is slow and heavie whereby they conclude that the region which the Zodiake circles and conteines is set on fire with heate for three causes and reasons the one for the neerenes of the Sunne the other for that his beames reflect directly and the third for that it doth participate and feele this swift and sodaine motion of the heaven See what reason and discourse teacheth vs touching the cause of heat and cold vpon the regions of the earth But what shall we say of the two other qualities wet and drie Even the same For the drought seemes to grow by the neerenes of the Sunne and moistnes being retired farre off for that the night being colder then the day is likewise more moist and the day which is drier is also hotter Winter whilst the Sun runnes his course farther off is more cold and rainie and Summer when the Sunne is neere is more hotte and drie for even as the fire hath the propertie to parch and burne so hath it to drie vp the moistnes These things therefore considered Aristotle and other Philosophers attribute vnto the regions of the South which they call burning an excessive heat and a drouth likewise And therefore they said this region is wonderfully scorched and drie so by consequence hath neither waters nor pastures whereby of necessitie it must be contrarie and vnfit for mans life That the burning Zone is very moist contrary to the opinion of the Ancients CHAP. 3. ALl that we have propounded seemes vndoubtedly true and to purpose and yet the conclusion they would draw from it is directly false for that the Region of the South which they call the burning Zone is peopled and inhabited by men and wee our selves have stayed long there beeing very commodious pleasant and agreeable If therefore it be so as we cannot denie it that from a true proposition we cannot draw a false conclusion and yet this conclusion should be false as indeed it is we must of necessitie returne backe the same way to examine this proposition more strictly whence the error should proceede we will first shew the trueth as assured experience doth teach vs then will we proove it although it be verie difficult and will endevour to give a reaâ—on following the termes of Philosophie The last point that wee propounded that the drought is greatest whenas the Sunne is neerest to the earth seemeth certaine and infallible and yet it is very false fâ—r there is never greater aboundance of raine in the burning Zone then whenas the Sunne goeth directly over them and is very neere Truely it is an admirable
Easterne windes and the Westerne and likewise of other windes CHAP. 5. ALthough that which we have spoken be generall and well approoved yet there remaines still a desire in me to learne the cause of this secret why vnder the burning Zone we saile alwaies from East to Weast with so great facilitie and not from Weast to East Which is as much as if wee should demaund why the Easterly windes raine there and not the Weasterly for that according to good Philosophie that which is perpetuall vniversall and of it selfe as the Philosophers say must have a proper cause and of it selfe But before I stay at this question which seemes remarkeable it shal be necessary to shew what we vnderstand by Brises or Easterly windes and Weasterly for that it will serve much for this subiect and for many other matters touching windes and navigations The Pilotes make two and thirty poynts of windes for that to bring their ship to the desired haven they must make their account as punctually and as strictly as they can for bending to the one side or the other never so little in the end of their course they should finde themselves farre from their pretended place And they reckon but twoo and thirty quarters of the windes for that more woulde confound the memorie But with reckoning as they accompt two and thirty windes so may they reckon three score and foure one hundred twenty and eight and two hundred fifty and six Finally multiply these partes to an infinite for the place where the shippe is being as it were the centre and all hemisphere in circumference what should let but wee may accompt lines without number the which comming from this centre drawe directly to these lineall circles in so many partes which might cause as many diverse windes seeing that the winde comes from all partes of the hemisphere which we may divide into as many parts as we will imagine yet the wisedome of man conformable to the holy Scripture observes foure windes the principall of all others and as it were the foure corners of the worlde the which they ioyne in making a crosse with two lines whereof the one goes from one Pole to another and the other from one Equinoctiall to the other Of the one side the North or Aquilon and the Southerne winde or mid-day opposite and on the other side the East which comes from the Sunne rising and the Weast from his setting And although the holy Scripture in some places speakes of other diversities of windes as of Eurus and Aquiloâ— which those in the Ocean sea call Nordest they of the mediterranean sea Gregual whereof there is mention made in Saint Paulâ— navigation yet the same holy Scripture makes mention of those foure notable windes which all the worlde knowes which areas is saide North South East and Weast But for that we finde three differences in the rising of the Sunne from whence the name of East comes that is the two greatest declinings which he doth vsually make and the meane betwixt them both as hee dooth rise in diverse places in winter in summer and in that which holdes the middle of these two seasons For this reason they have reckoned two other windes the East of summer and the East of winter and by consequence two Weasts the one of summer and the other of winter their contraries So as there are eight windes in eight notable poyntes of heaven which are the two Poles the two Equinoxes the two Solstices and their opposites in the same Circle the which are called by divers names and appellations in every place of the sea and land Those which saile the Ocean doe vsually call them thus They give the name of North to those windes that blowe from our Pole which carrieth the same name and Northeast that which is neerest and comes from the summer East They call East that which comes directly from the rising Equinoctiall and Southeast that which comes from the winter rising To the Mid-day or Pole Antartike they give the name of Southwest and to that of the winters setting the name of Southwest to the right setting Equinoctiall the name of West and to the summers setting Northweast They divide amongst them the rest of the winds and give them their names as they participate and approach to others as North-northweast North-north-east East-northeast East-southeast South-southweast Weast-southwest Weast-norwest so as by their names we know whence they proceed In the Mediterranean sea although they follow the same division and maner of reckoning yet doe they give them other different names they call the North Tramontana and his contrary the South MeZo-giorno or Mydy the East they call Levant and the Weast Povant and those which crosse these foure they call thus Southeast is by them named Xirocque or Xaloque and his opposite which is Norwest Mestrall they call the northeast Greâ— or Greguall and the Southweast his contrary Levesche Libique or Affricaine In Latine the foure knowne winds be Sâ—ptentrio Auster Subsolanus Favonius and those which be interlaced are Aquilo Vulturnus Affricus and Corus according vnto Plinie Vulturnus and Eurus is the same winde that Southeast or Xaloque Favonius is the Weast or Ponâ—nt Aquilo and Boreas is Nortest or Gregual or Tramontana Affricus and Libique is the Southweast or Levesche Auster and Notus is the South or Midday Corus and Zephirus the Northwest or Mestral and to the Northeast or Gregual they give no other name then Phenicien Some divide them after an other maner but for that it is not now our purpose to repeate the Latine and Greeke names of all the windes lette vs onely shew which be those amongst these windes that the Mariners of the Indian Ocean call Brises and lower winds I was long in some difficulty about these names seeing them to vse them very diversly vntill I found that these names were more generall then proper and peculiar They call Brises those which serve to goe to the Indies the which blowe in their poope which by this meanes comprehend all the Easterly windes and those which depend of them And they do call lower windes those which are fitte to returne from the Indies which blowe from the South to the summer-weast so as they be as it were two Esquadrons of windes of eyther side the Corporalles be of oneside Northeast or Greguall on the other Southweast or Levesche But you must vnderstand that of the number of eight windes and differences which we have counted five are proper to saile by and not the other three I say that when a ship sailes at sea he may make a long voyage with one of these windes although they serve him not equally but he cannot vse any of the other three As if a shippe goe to the South he shall saile with the North Northeast Northweast and with East and Weast for side-windes serve to goe or to come But with a Southerne wind he cannot saile being directly contrary nor with with his two Collaterals
THE NATVRALL and Morall Historie of the East and West Indies Intreating of the remarkeable things of Heaven of the Elements Mettalls Plants and Beasts which are proper to that Country Together with the Manners Ceremonies Lawes Governements and Warres of the Indians Written in Spanish by Ioseph Acosta and translated into English by E. G 〈…〉 LONDON Printed by Val Sims for Edward Blount and William Aspley 1604. To the right Honorable Sir Robert Cicill Knight Baron of Essingden Vicount Cranborne principall Secretary to his Maiestie master of the Court of Wardes and Liveries and one of his Highnesse most honourable Privie Counsell RIght Honorable If it appeare presumption in me to shew my love my dutie betraies me to it The advantage I have gleaned from idle houres in exchanging this Indian History from Spanish to English is commended to your Honors Patronage whose first father Ioseph Acosta hath with great observation made worthie the over-looking A greater motive then that you are your selfe needed not to excite me to this dedication I beseech you my good Lord take it into shelter and receive that which is not for that which I would it were Let my insufficiencie be measured by my good will So shall my poore abilities thrive vnder your incouragement and happily leade me on to some stronger vndertaking wherein I shall bee bound to thanke you for mine owne paines and for ever remaine Your Lordships most devoted E. G. The Authors advertisement to the Reader MANY have written sundry bookes and discourses of the New World at the West Indies wherein they describe new and strange things discovered in those partes with the actes and adventures of the Spaniards which have conquered and peopled those Countries But hitherto I have not seene any other Author which treates of the causes and reasons of these novelties and wonders of nature or that hath made any search thereof Neither have I read any booke which maketh mention of the histories of the antient Indians and naturall inhabitants of the New World In truth these two things are difficult The first being the works of Nature contrarie to the antient and received Philosophy as to shew that the region which they call the burning Zone is very moist and in many places very temperate and that it raines there whenas the Sunne is neerest with such like things For such as have written of the West Indies have not made profession of so deepe Philosophie yea the greatest part of those Writers have had no knowledge thereof The second thing it treats of is of the proper historie of the Indians the which required much conference and travaile among the Indians themselves the which most of them that have treated of the Indies could not doe either not vnderstanding the language or not curious in the search of their Antiquities so as they have beene contented to handle those things which have beene most common and superficiall Desiring therefore to have some more particular knowledge thereof I have beene carefull to learne from men of greatest experience and best seene in these matters and to gather from their discourses and relations what I have thought sit to give knowledge of the deedes and custome of these people And for that which concernes the nature of those Countries and their properties I have learned it by the experience of many friends and by my dilligence to search discover and conferre with men of iudgement and knowledge In my opinion there are many advertisements which may serve and benefit better wits for the searching out of the truth or to proceede farther in finding that pleasing which is conteined heerein So as although this new World be not new but old in respect of the much which hath beene written thereof yet this historie may in some sort be hâ—ld for new for it is partly historicall and partly philosophicall as well for that they are the workes of nature as of free-will which are the deedes and customes of men the which hath caused mee to name it the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies Containing these two things In the first two bookes mention is made of that which concernes the heavens temperature and habitation of the world which books I had first written in Latine now I have translated them into Spanish vsing more the liberty of an author then the strict bonds of a translator to apply my self the better to those for whom it is written in the vulgar tong In the two following books is treated of that which concernes the Elements and naturall mixtures as Mettalls Plants Beasts and what else is remarkable at the Indies The rest of the bookes relate what I could certainely discover and what I thought worthie memory of the Indians themselves their Ceremonies Customs Governments Wars Adventures In the same Historie shall be spoken as I could learne and comprehend of the figures of the antient Indians seeing they had no writing nor characters as we have which is no small industry to have preserved their Antiquities without the vse of letters To conclude the scope of this worke is that having knowledge of the workes of nature which the wise Author of all nature made we may praise and glorifie the high God who is wonderfull in all things and all places And having knowledge of the Indians customes we may helpe them more easily to follow and persever in the high vocation of the Gospel to the knowledge whereof the Lord would draw this blinde nation in these latter daies Besides al these things every one may sucke out some profit for himselfe for that the wise do alwaies draw forth some good out of the smalest subiect as we finde deepe Philosophie in the least and basest creatures I must onely advertise the Reader that the two first bookes of this historie or discourse were written in Peru and the other five since in Europe dutie binding me to returne into these partes so as some speake of matters of the Indies as of things present and others as being absent And therefore I have thought it good to advertise the Reader heereof that this diversitie of speach may not be troublesome vnto him Farewell A Table of the most remarkable things contained in this Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies A. Abundance of waters vnder the burning zone folio 93 Absurditie of Platoes Atlantike Iland 73 Abuse of the Spaniards at Peru taking winter for summer 89 Acamapach first king of Mexico 482 Accord betwixt the king of Mexico his subiects before they attempted a warre 532 Adlaguagi a kind of mummery of women 367 Acts of Ferdinand Cortez 574 Adimant makes a path in the Sea 57 The Adamant impartes a vertue to yron to looke alwayes towards the north 58 Vse of the Adamant to saile by not antient 59 Adoration of the dead begunne and augmented 340 Adultery punished with death 469 Agilitie of monkies 315 Aire how necessary for the life of man 114 The Aire stirred with the motion of the heauens
Philosophie worthy of accoumpt The greatest part of Platoes Interpreters affirme that it is a true Historie whatsoever Critias reports of the strange beginning of the Atlantike Iland of the greatnes thereof of the warres they had against them of Europe with many other things That which gives it the more credite of a true Historie be the wordes of Critias whom Plato brings in in his time saying that the subiect he meanes to treate of is of strange things but yet true The other disciples of Plato considering that this discourse hath more shew of a fable then of a true Historie say that we must take it as an allegorie and that such was the intention of their divine Philosopher Of this opinion is Procles and Porphire yea and Origene who so much regardes the writings of Plato as when they speake thereof they seeme to bee the bookes of Moses or of Esdras and whereas they thinke the writings of Plato have no shew of truth they say they are to be vnderstood mystically and in allegories But to say the truth I do not so much respect the authoritie of Plato whom they call Divine as I wil beleeve he could write these things of the Atlantike Iland for a true Historie the which are but meere fables seeing hee confesseth that hee learned them of Critias being a little childe who among other songs sung that of the Atlantike Iland But whether that Plato did write it for a true Historie or a fable for my part I beleeve that all which he hath written of this Iland beginning at the Dialogue of Time and continuing to that of Critias cannot be held for true but among children and old folkes Who will not accoumpt it a fable to say that Neptune fell in love with Clite and had of her five paire of twinnes at one birth And that out of one mountaine hee drew three round balles of water and two of earth which did so well resemble as you would have iudged them all one bowell What shall wee say moreover of that Temple of a thousand pace long and five hundred broade whose walles without were all covered with silver the seeling of gold and within ivorie indented and inlaied with gold silver and pearle In the end speaking of the ruine thereof he concludes thus in his time In one day and one night came a great deluge whereby all our souldiers were swallowed by heapes within the earth and in this sort the Atlantike Iland being drowned it vanished in the Sea Without doubt it fell out happily that this Iland vanished so suddenly seeing it was bigger then Asia and Affrike and that it was made by enchantment It is in likesort all one to say that the ruines of this so great an Iland are seene in the bottome of the sea and that the Mariners which see them cannot saile that way Then he addes For this cause vnto this day that Sea is not navigable by reason of the bancke which by little little is growne in that drowned Iland I would willingly demand what Sea could swallow vp so infinite a continent of land greater then Asia and Affrike whose confines stretched vnto the Indies and to swallow it vp in such sort as there should at this day remaine no signes nor markes thereof whatsoever seeing it is well knowne by experience that the Mariners finde no bottome in the Sea where they say this Iland was Notwithstanding it may seeme indiscreete and farre from reason to dispute seriously of those things which are reported at pleasure or if we shall give that respect to the authoritie of Plato as it is reason we must rather vnderstand them to signifie simply as in a picture the prosperitie of a Citie and withall the ruine thereof For the argument they make to prove that this Atlantike Iland hath bene really and indeede saying that the sea in those parts doth at this day beare the name of Atlantike is of small importance for that wee knowe Mount Atlas whereof Plinie sayes this sea tooke the name is vpon the confines of the Mediterranean Sea And the same Plinie reportes that ioyning to the said Mount there is an Iland called Atlantike which he reportes to be little and of small accompt That the opinion of many which holde that the first race of the Indians comes from the Iewes is not true CHAP. 23. NOw that wee have shewed how vnlikely it is that the first Indians passed to the Indies by the Atlantike Iland there are others holde opinion that they tooke the way whereof Esdras speakes in his fourth booke in this manner And whereas thou sawest that he gathered an other peaceable troope vnto him thou shalt know those are the ten tribes which were caried away captives out of their own land in the time of king Ozeas whom Salmanazar king of the Assyrians tooke captives and ledde them beyond the river so were they brought into an other land but they tooke this counsell to themselves to leave the multitude of the heathen and go forth into a farther countrie where never mankind dwelt that they might there observe their statutes which they could not keepe in their owne land and they entred by the narrowe passages of the river Euphrates for then God shewed his wonders and stayed the springs of the flood vntill they were passed over for the way vnto that Countrie is very long yea of a yeere and a halfe and this Region is called Arsareth then dwelt they there vntill the latter time and when they come forth againe the most Mightie shall hold still the springs of the river againe that they may goe through for this cause sawest thou this multitude peaceable Some will apply this text of Esdras to the Indies saying they were guided by God whereas never mankinde dwelt and that the land where they dwelt is so farre off as it requires a yeere and a halfe to performe the voyage beeing by nature very peaceable And that there are great signes and arguments amongst the common sort of the Indians to breed a beleefe that they are descended from the Iewes for commonly you shall see them fearefull submisse ceremonious and subtill in lying And moreover they say their habites are like vnto those the Iewes vsed for they weare a short coat or waste-coat and a cloake imbroidered all about they goe bare-footed or with soles tied with latchers over the foot which they call Oiotas And they say that it appeares by their Histories as also by their ancient pictures which represent them in this fashion that this attire was the ancient habite of the Hebrewes and that these two kinds of garments which the Indians onely vse were vsed by Samson which the Scripture calleth Tunicam and Sidonem beeing the same which the Indians terme wast-coat and cloake But all these coniectures are light and rather against them then with them for wee know well that the Hebrewes vsed letters whereof there is no shew among the Indians they were great
such as it drawes vp the vapors and suddenly consumes and disperseth them for the heat and the length of the daies grow through the neerenes of the sunne But within the Tropickes vnder the burning Zone the far distance of the sunne workes the same effects that the neerenes doth without the Tropiks by reason whereof it raines no more vnder the burning Zone when the sunne is farre off then without the Tropicks when it is neerest for that in this approaching and retyâ—ing the sunne remaines alwaies in one distance whence proceedes this effect of cleerenes But when the sunne is in the period of his force in the burning zone and that he cast his beames directly vpon the inhabitants heads there is neither cleerenes nor drienes as it seems there should be but rather great and strange showers for that by this violent heat he drawes vp suddenly a great aboundance of vapours from the Earth and Ocean which are so thicke as the winde not able easily to disperse them they melt into water which breedeth the cold raine in so great aboundance for the excessive heat may soone draw vp many vapours the which are not so soone dissolved and being gathered together through their great aboundance they melt and dissolve into water The which we may easily discerne by this familiar example rost a peece of porke mutton or veale if the fire be violent and the meate neere we see the fatte melts suddenly and droppes away the reason is that the violent heat drawes forth the humour and fatte from the meate and being in great aboundance cannot dissolve it and so it distills more away But when the fire is moderate and the meat in an equall distance we see that it rostes hansomely and the fatte drops not too suddenly for that the moderate heat drawes out the moistnes which it consumes suddenly And therefore Cookes make a moderate fire and lay not their meate too neere nor too farre off lest it melt away The like may be seene in another experience in candles of tallow or waxe if the wike bee great it melts the tallow or the waxe for that the heat cannot consume the moistnes which riseth but if the flame be proporcionable the waxe melts nor droppes not for that the flame doth waste it by little and little as it riseth The which seemeth to me the true reason why vnder the Equinoctiall and burning Zone the violence of the heat doth cause raine the which in other Regions growes through want thereof How wee should vnderstand that which hath been formerly spoken of the burning Zone CHAP. 8. IF in naturall and phisicall things we must not seeke out infallible and mathematicall rules but that which is ordinarie and tried by experience which is the most perfect rule wee must then beleeve what wee have said that there is more humiditie vnder the burning Zone then in other Regions and that it raines lesse there when the sunne is neerest must be taken and vnderstood after one sort as in truth it is the most common and ordinarie But this is not to hinder the exceptions which nature hath given to this rule making some Regions of the burning Zone extreamely drie The which is reported of Ethiopia and wee have seene it in a great part of Peru where all that land or coast which they call Plaines wants raine yea land waters except some vallies where rivers fall from the mountaines the rest is a sandie and barren soile where you shall hardly finde any springs but some deepe welles But with the helpe of God wee will shew the reason why it raineth not in these Plaines the which many demand for now I onely pretend to shew that there are many exceptions to naturall rules whereby it may happen that in some part of the burning Zone it raines not when the sunne is neerest but being farthest off although vnto this daie I have neither seene nor heard of it but if it be so wee must attribute it to the particular qualitie of the earth and also if sometimes the contrarie doth chance we must have regard that in naturall things there happens many contrarieties and leâ—s whereby they change and dissolve one another For example it may be the sunne will cause raine and that the winds will hinder it or else cause more aboundance then hath been vsuall The windes have their properties and divers beginnings by the which they worke divers effects the which are most commonly contrarie to that which the order season requires Seeing then in all places we see great varieties in the yeere which proceedes from the divers motions and aspectes of Planets it is not out of purpose to say that in the burning Zone wee may see and observe some things contrarie to that we have tried But to conclude that which we have spoken is a certaine and vndoubted truth which is that the great draught which the Ancients held to be in the middle region which they call the burning Zone is nothing at all but contrariwise there is great humiditie and then it raines most when the sunne is neerest That the Burning Zone is not violently hotte but moderate CHAP. 9. HItherto wee haue treated of the humiditie of the Burning Zone now it shall be fit to discourse of the other two qualities Hotte and Colde We have shewed in the beginning of this Discourse how the Ancients held that the burning Zone was hotte and exceeding drie the which is not so for it is hote and moist and in the greatest part the heat is not excessive but rather moderate which some would hold incredible if we had not tried it When I passed to the Indies I will tell what chaunced vnto mee having read what Poets and Philosophers write of the bâ—â—ning Zone I perswaded my selfe that comming to the Equinoctiall I should not indure the violent heate but it fell out otherwise for when I passed which was when the sun was there for Zenith being entered into Aries in the moneth of March I felt so great cold as I was forced to go into the sunne to warme me what could I else do then but laugh at Aristotles Meteors and his Philosophie seeing that in that place and at that season whenas all should be scorched with heat according to his rules I and all my companions were a colde In truth there is no region in the world more pleasant and temperate then vnder the Equinoctiall although it be not in all parts of an equall temperature but have great diversities The burning Zone in some parts is very temperate as in Quitto and on the plaines of Peru in some partes verie colde as at Potozi and in some very hote as in Ethiopia Bresill and the Molucques This diversitie being knowne and certaine vnto vs we must of force seeke out another cause of cold and heat then the sunne beames seeing that in one season of theyeere and in places of one height and distance from the Pole and Equinoctiall we finde so great diversitie
which daily happens in diverse partes of the Equinoctiall Manomotapa and a great part of the kingdom of Prester Iean are seated vnder the line or very neere In which regions they endure excessive heate and the men are all blacke the which is not onely in those parts of the land farre from the sea but also in Ilands invironed with the sea The Iland of Saint Thomas is vnder the Line the Ilands of Cape Verd are very neere and both in the one and the other are violent heates and the men are likewise blacke Vnder the same line or very neere lies a part of Peru and of the new kingdome of Grenado which notwithstanding are very temperate Countries inclining rather to colde then heate and the inhabitants are white The Country of Bresill is in the same distance from the line with Peru and yet both Bresill and all that coast is extreamely hot although it be in the North sea and the other coast of Peru which is in the South sea is very temperate I say then that whosoever would consider these differences and give a reason thereof cannot content himselfe with these generall rules before specified to proove that the burning Zone may be a temperate land Among the speciall causes and reasons I have first placed the Sea for without doubt the neerenesse thereof doth helpe to temper and coole the heat for although the water be salt yet is it alwayes water whose nature is cold and it is a thing remarkeable that in the depth of the Ocean the water cannot be made hot by the violence of the Sunne as in rivers finally even as salt-peeter though it be of the nature of salt hath a propertie to coole water even so we see by experience that in some ports and havens the salt-water doth refresh the which wee have observed in that of Callao whereas they put the water or wine which they drinke into the Sea in flaggons to be refreshed whereby wee may vndoubtedly finde that the Ocean hath this propertie to temper and moderate the excessive heate for this cause we feele greater heat at land then at sea Caeteris paribus and commonly Countries lying neere the sea are coooler then those that are farther off Caeteris paribus as I have said even so the greatest part of the new world lying very neere the Ocean wee may with reason say although it bee vnder the burning Zone yet doth it receive a great benefite from the sea to temper the heat That the highest landes are the coldest and the reason thereof CHAP. 12. BVt if we shall yet search more particularly we shall not finde in all this land an equall temperature of heate although it be in equal distance from the sea and in the same degree seeing that in some partes there is great heate and in some very little Doubtlesse the cause thereof is that the one is lower and the other higher which causeth that the one is hote and the other colde It is most certaine that the toppes of the mountaines are colder then in the bottome of the vallies the which proceedes not onely for that the sunne beames have greater repercussions vpon lower places although it be a great reason yet there is an other which is that the Region of the ayre is colder when it is farthest from the ground The Plaines of Collao at Peru of Popaian in new Spaine make sufficient proofe hereof For without al doubt those parts are high countries and for this reason cold although they be all invironed with high points of mountaines much subiect to the Sunne beames But if we demand why at Peru and in new Spaine the Plaines along the coast be very hote and the plaines of the same Countries of Peru and new Spaine be contrariwise colde In truth I see no other reason can be given but that the one is a lowe country and the other high Experience dooth teach vs that the middle region of the ayre is colder than the neather And therefore the more the mountaines approach to the middle the colder they are being covered with snow and frosts Reason it selfe dooth yeelde to it For if there be a sphere and region of fire as Aristotle and the other Philosophers say the middle region of the ayre must be most colde by Antiparistasis the colde being expelled and thickned there as in summer time we see in wells that are very deepe For this cause the Philosophers affirme that the two extreame regions of the ayre that above and the other belowe are the hottest and the middle region more colde If it be thus as experience doth teach vs we shall yet draw out another reason and notable argument to shew that the burning Zone is temperate which is that the greatest part of the Indies is a high countrey filled with many mountaines which by their neerenesse refresh the neighbour countries You may continually see vppon the toppes of these mountaines snow haile and frozen waters and the cold so bitter as the grasse is all withered so as the men and beasts which passe that way are benummed with colde This as I have saide is in the burning Zone and it happens most commonly when they have the sunne for zenith It is therefore most certaine and conformable vnto reason that the mountaines are colder than the valleis and plaines for that they participate more of the middle region of the aire which is very colde The cause why the middle region of the ayre is more colde hath bin shewed before for that the region of the aire next to the fiery exhalation the which according to Aristotle is vpon the spheare of the aire repells and thrustes backe all the colde the which retires it selfe into the middle region of the aire by Antiparistasis as the Philosophers speake Now if any one should question with me in this manner If it be so that the ayre is hot and moist as Aristotle holdes and as we commonly say whence then proceeds the cold which is congealed in the middle region of the ayre seeing it cannot come from the fierie spheare For if it come from the water or the earth by this reason the lower region of the aire should be colder than the middle To answer truely what I thinke I will confesse that this Argument and Obiection is so difficult as I am almost ready to follow the opinion of such as reproove the qualities agreements and disagreements which Aristotle gives vnto the Elements saying they are but imaginations who for this occasion hold the aire to be colde by nature And to this end they vse many arguments and reasons whereof we will propound one very familiar and well knowne leaving the rest aparte In the canicular dayes we are accustomed to beate the ayre with a fanne and we finde that it doth refresh vs so as these Authors affirme that heate is no private property of any other Element but of fire only which is dispersed and mingled with all things as the great Denis
thou not knowe whence it commeth nor whither it shall goe To teach vs that conceiving a little of matters which are present common vnto vs wee should not presume to vnderstand that which is so high and so hidden as the causes and motives of the Holy-ghost It is therefore sufficient that wee knowe his operations and effectes the which are plainely discovered in his greatnes and perfections and to have treated alitle philosophically of the windes and the causes of their differences properties and operations which wee have produced into three the place by which they passe the regions where they blowe and the celestiall virtue the beginning and motive of the windes Of certaine properties of windes which blowe at the new worlde CHAP. 3. IT is a question much disputed by Aristotle whether the Southerne winde which we call Abreguo blowes from the pole Antartike or onely from the Equinoctiall lineâ— which is properly to demaund if beyond the Equinoctiall it holde the same qualitie of hote and rainie as we see here It is a point whereof we may with reason stand in doubt for although it passe the Equinoctiall yet is it still the Southerne wind seeing it comes from the same parte of the worlde as the Northerne winde which comes to the contrary continues stil the same winde although it passe the burning Zone and Equinoctiall line And it seemes hereby that these two windes should hold their first properties the one to be hote and moist the other colde and drie the South to breede mists and raine and the North to disperse them and to make a cleere Skie Notwithstanding Aristotle leanes to the contrary opinion for that in Europe the Northerne winde is colde because it comes from the Pole a region extreamely colde and the Southerne winde contrariwise is hotte because it comes from the South which is the region the Sunne dooth most heate By this reason then we should believe that the South winde should be colde to them that inhabite on the other side of the line and the Northerne wind should be hote for in those partes the Southerne wind comes from the Pole the Northerne from the Line And though it seemes by this reason that the Southern winde should be more colde there than the Northern is heere for that they holde the region of the South Pole to be more colde then that of the North by reason that the Sunne stayeth seaven dayes every yeere in the Tropike of Cancer more then it dooth in the Tropicke of Capricorne as it appeareth by the Equinoxes and Solstices he makes in the two Circles wherein it seemeth that Nature would shew the preheminence and excellencie of this moity of the worlde which is in the North above the other parte in the South so as it seemeth there is reason to beleeve that these qualities of the windes doe change in passing the Line but in trueth it is not so as I could comprehend by the experience I had some yeeres being in those partes of the Indies which lie on the South of the other side of the Line It is true that the Northerne winde is not vsually colde and cleere there as heere In some parts of Peru as at Lima and on the Plaines they find the Northern windes troublesome and vnwholesome and all along the coast which runs above five hundred leagues they holde the Southerne windes for healthfull and coole and which is more most cleere and pleasant yea it never raines contrary to that wee see in Europe and of this side the Line Yet that which chaunceth vpon the coast of Peru is no generall rule but rather an exception and a wonder of Nature neuer to raine vpon that coast and ever to have one winde without giving place to his contrary whereof we will heereafter speake our minde Now let vs stand vpon this point that the Northerne winde beyond the line hath not the same properties which the Southerne winde hath on this side although they both blow from the midday to regions and parts of the world which be opposite and contrarie For it is no generall rule there that the Northerne winde is neither hote nor rainie there as the South winde is on this side but contrariwise it raines whenas the South winde blowes there as we see in all the Sierre or mountaine of Peru in Chile and in the Countrie of Congo which is on the other side of the line and farre advanced into the Sea And in Potozi likewise the winde which they call Tomahani which is our North if my memorie faile me not is extreamely cold drie and vnpleasant as it is heere with vs. Yet doth not the Northerne winde disperse the cloudes vsually there as it doth heere but contrariwise if I be not deceived it doth often cause raine There is no doubt but the windes do borrow this great diversitie of contrarie effects from the places by which they passe and the neere regions where they are bred as we see by daily experience in a thousand places But speaking in generall of the qualitie of the windes we must rather looke to the coastes or partes of the world from whence they proceede then to observe whether they be on this side or beyond the line as it seemes the Philosopher held opinion These capitall windes which be the East and West have no such universall qualities nor so common in this continent nor in the other as the two former The Solanus or Easterne winde is commonly here troblesome vnholsome the Westerne or Zephirus is more milde and healthfull At the Indies and in all the burning Zone the Easterne winde which they call Brise is contrariwise very healthfull and pleasant Of the West I cannot speake any thing certaine or generall for that it blowes not at all or very seldome in the burning Zone for in all the navigation betwixt the two Tropikes the Easterne winde is ordinary And for that it is one of the admirable workes of Nature it shall be good to vnderstand the cause and the beginning thereof That the burning Zone the Brises or Easterly windes do continually blowe and without the Zone the westerne and that the Easterly are ordinarie alwaies there CHAP. 4. THe waies at Sea are not as at Land to returne the sameway they passe It is all one way saieth the Philosopher from Athens to Thebes and from Thebes to Athens but it is not so at Sea for we go one way and returne by another The first which discovered the East and weast Indies laboured much with great difficultie to finde out their course vntill that Experience the mistris of these secrets had taught them that to saile through the Ocean is not like the passage in Italie through the Mediterranean sea where in their returne they observe the same Ports and Capes they had sight of in their passage attending still the benefite of the winde which changeth instantly and when that failes they have recourse to their owers and so the
which is Southest and Southwest which is a very triviall thing common to them that saile And therefore it is not needefull to explaine them heere but to signifie that the side-windes of the right East are those which commonly blow to the burning Zone which they doe call Brises and those from the South declining to the Weast which serve to saile from Weast to East are not common in the burning Zone and therefore they seeke them without the tropikes and the Indian Mariners commonly call them lower windes or Vents dábas What is the reason why sailing vâ—der the burning Zone we finde alwayes Easterly windes CHAP. 6. LEt vs now speake of that which toucheth the Question propounded what should be the reason whie vnder the burning Zone wee saile easily from East to Weast and not contrary wherein we must presuppose two certaine groundes The one is that the motion of the first moover which they call Diurnall not onâ—lie drawes and mooves with him the celestiall spheares which are inferiour vnto him as wee see daily in the sunne the moone and the starres but also the Elements do participate of this motion insomuch as they are not hindered The earth is not mooved by reason of her heavinesse which makes it immooveable being far from this first motor The element of water moves not likewise with this Diurnall motion for that it is vnited to the earth and make one sphere so as the earth keeps it from all circular motion But th' other two elements of fire aire are more subtil and neerer the heavenly regions so as they participate of their motion and are driven about circularly as the same celestial bodies As for the fire without doubt it hath his sphere as Aristotle and other Philosophers have held but for the aire which is no point of our subiect it is most certaine that it mooves with a motion diurnall which is from East to Weast which we see plainely in Comets that moove from the East vnto the Weast mounting descending and finally turning in the hemispheare in the same sort as the Starres move in the firmament for otherwise these Comets being in the region sphere of the aire whereas they ingender appeares consum'd It should be impossible for them to moove circularly as they doe if the element of the aire doth not moove with the same motion that the first motor dooth For these elements being of a burning substance by reason they should be fixt without mooving circularly if the sphere where they are did not moove if it be not as we faine that some Angell or intellectuall Spirite dooth walke with the Comet guiding it circularly In the yeere of our Lord God one thousand five hundred seaventy and seaven appeered that wonderfull Comet in forme like vnto a feather from the horizon almost to the middest of heaven and continued from the first of November vntill the eight of December I say from the first of November for although in Spaine it was noted but the ninth of November according to the testimony of Writers of that time yet at Peru where I was then I remember well we did see it and observe it eight dayes before and all the time after Touching the cause of this diversity some may dilate vpon it particularly I will onely shew that during those fourtie dayes which it continued we all observed both such as were in Spaine and we that lived then at the Indies that it mooved daily with an vniversall motion from East to Weast as the Moone and other Planets wherby it appeeres that the sphere of the aire being its Region the element it selfe must of necessitie moove after the same sort We noted also that besides this vniversall motion it had an other particular by which it moved with the planets fro west to east for every night it turned more Eastward like vnto the Moone Sunne and Planet of Venus Wee did also observe a third particular motion whereby it mooved from the zodiacke towards the North for after some nights it was found neerer vnto the Septentrionall signes And it may be this was the reason why the great Comet was sooner seene by those that were southerly as at Peru and later discovered by them of Europe for by this third motion as I have saide it approached neerer the Northerne Regions Yet every one may well observe the differences of this motion so as wee may well perceive that many and sundry celestiall bodies give their impressions to the sphere of the aire In like sorte it is most certaine that the ayre mooves with the circular motion of the heaven from Est to West which is the first ground before mentioned The second is no lesse certaine the which is that the motion of the aire in those parts that are vnder the Line or neere vnto it is very swift and light the more it approacheth to the Equinoctiall but the farther off it is from the Line approching neere the Poles the more slowe and heavie this motion is The reason heereof is manifest for that the mooving of the celestiall bodies being the efficient cause of the mooving of the ayre it must of necessitie be more quicke and light where the celestiall bodies have their swiftest motion To labour to shew the reason why the heaven hath a quicker motion vnder the burning Zone which is the Line then in any other part of the heaven were to make small account of men seeing it is easie to see in a wheele that its motion is more slowe and heavy in the part of greatest circumference then in the lesse and that the greater circumference ends at one instant with the lesser From these two grounds proceedes the reason where such as saile great gulphs from east to west doe alwayes finde the winde in their powpe going in a small altitude and the neerer they come to the Equinoctiall the more certaine and durable the winde is And contrariwise sailing from west to east they always finde the winde contrary for that the swift motion of the Equinoctiall drawes after it the element of the aire as it doth the surplus of the higher spheares So as the aire dooth alwayes follow the motion of the day Going from east to weast without any alteration and the motion of the aire being swift draweth after it all the vapours and exhalations which rise from the sea which causeth in those Regions a continuall easterly winde which runnes from the Levant Father Alonso Sanches a religious man and of our company who hath travelled the east and west Indies as a man ingenious and of experience said that sailing vnder the Line or neere vnto it with a continued and durable season it seemed to him to be the same aire mooved by the heaven the which guided the ships and was not properly a winde nor exhalation but an aire moved with the daily course of the sunne for proofe whereof he shewed that the season is alwayes equall and alike at the gulph of Danees and in
the kingdome of Chille and that of Grenade and yet none of these kingdomes is Peru but onely that parte which lies to the South beginning at the kingdome of Quitto which is vnder the Line and runnes in length to the realme of Chille the which is without the Tropickes which were sixe hundred leagues in length and in breadth it containes no more then the mountaines which is fiftie common leagues although in some places as at Chachapayas it be broader This parte of the world which we call Peru is very remarkeable and containes in it strange properties which serveth as an exception to the generall rule of the Indies The first is that vpon all that coast it blowes continually with one onely winde which is South and Southweast contrary to that which dooth vsually blow vnder the burning Zone The second is that this winde being by nature the most violent tempestuous and vnhealthfull of all others yet in this region it is marvellous pleasing healthful and agreeable so as we may attribute the habitation of that part therevnto without the which it would be troublesome and inhabitable by reason of the heate if it were not refreshed with the winde The third propertie is that it never raines thunders snowes nor hailes in all this coast which is a matter worthy of admiration Fourthly that alittle distance from the coast it raines and snowes terribly Fiftly that there are two ridges of mountaines which runne the one as the other and in one altitude notwithstanding on the one there are great forrests and it raines the greatest part of the yeere being very hote and the other is all naked and bare and very colde so as winter and summer are divided on those two mountaines and raine and cleerenesse it selfe For the better vnderstanding hereof wee must consider that Peru is divided as it were into three partes long and narrow which they call Lanos Sierras and Andes the Lanos runnes along est the sea coast the Sierras be all hilles with some vallies and the Andes be steepe and craggie mountaines The Lanos or sea coast have some tenne leagues in breadth in some parts lesse and in some parts alittle more The Sierra containes some twentie leagues in breadth and the Andes as much sometimes more sometimes lesse They runne in length from north to south and in breadth from east to weast It is a strange thing that in so small a distance as fiftie leagues equally distant from the Line and Pole there should bee so great a contrarietie as to raine almost continually in one place and never in the other It never raines vpon the coast or Lanos although there falles sometimes a small dew which they call Guarva and in Castill Molâ—â—â—a the which sometimes thickens and falles in certaine droppes of water yet is it not troublesome nor such as they neede any covering Their coverings are of mattes with a little earth vpon them which is sufficient Vpon the Andes it raines in a manner continually although it be sometimes more cleere then other In the Sierra which lies betwixt both the extreames it raineth in the same season as it dooth in Spaine which is from September vnto Aprill but in the other season the time is more cleere which is when the Sunne is farthest off and the contrarie when it is neerest whereof we have discoursed at large in the former booke That which they call Andes and Sierra are twoo ridges of most high mountaines which runne above a thousand leagues the one in view of the other and almost equally There are an infinite number of Vicagues which breede in the Sierres and are properly like vnto wilde goates very nimble and swift There are also of those beasts which they call Guanacos and Pacos which are sheepe which we may wel terme the asses of that countrey whereof we shall speake in their place And vpon the Andes they finde Apes very gentle and delightfull and Parrots in great numbers There also they find the hearb or tree which they call Coca that is so greatly esteemed by the Indians and the trafficke they make of it is worthy much mony That which they call Sierre causeth vallies whereas it opens which are the best dwellings of Peru as is the valley of Xauxa of Andaguaylas and Yucay In these vallies there growes wheat mays and other sortes of fruits but lesse in one then in the other Beyond the Citie of Cusco the ancient Court of the Lordes of those Realmes the two ridges of mountaines seperate them selves one from the other and in the midst leave a plaine and large champian which they call the Province of Callao where there are many rivers and great store of fertile pastures there is also that great Lake of Titicaca And although it be a ful soile and in the same height and intemperature that the Sierre having no more trees nor forrests yet the want they have of bread is countervailed with the rootes they sowe the which they call Papas and they grow in the earth This roote is the Indians foode for drying it and making it cleane they make that which they call Chugno which is the bread and nourishment of those Provinces There are other rootes and small hearbes which they eate It is a healthfull soile best peopled and the richest of all the Indies for the aboundance of cattell they feed as well of those that are in Europe as sheepe neate and goates as of those of the Countrie which they call Guanacos and Pacos and there are store of Partridges Next to the Province of Callao is that of Charcas where there are hote vallies very fertile and very high rockes the which are very rich in mines so as in no part of the world shall you finde better nor fairer The reason why it raines on the Lanos along the Sea coast CHAP. 21. FOr that it is rare and extraordinarie to see a Countrie where it never raines nor thunders men desire naturally to know the cause of this strangenes The reason which some give that have neerely looked into it is that vpon that coast there rise no vapors sufficient to engender raine for want of matter but onely that there be finall and light vapors which cannot breede any other then mistes and dewes as we see in Europe oftentimes vapors do rise in the morning which are not turned into raine but into mistes only the which growes from the substance which is not grosse and sufficient enough to turne to raine They say the reason why that which happens but some times in Europe falles out continually vpon the coast of Peru is for that this region is very drie and yeeldes no grosse vapors The drinesse is knowne by the greâ— abundance of sandes having neither welles nor fountaines but of fifteene stades deepe which is the height of a man or more and that is neere vnto rivers the water whereof piercing into the land giues them meanes to make welles So as it hath been found by
banquet and dinner of the feast having first bid the idoll good morrow with a small dance which they made whilst the day did breake and that they prepared the sacrifice Then did all the Marchants assemble at this banket especially those which made it a trafficke to buy and sell slaves who were bound every yeare to offer one for the resemblance of their god This idoll was one of the most honoured in all the land and therefore the Temple where hee was was of great authoritie There were threescore staires to ascend vp vnto it and on the toppe was a court of an indifferent largenesse very finely drest and plastered in the midst whereof was a great round thing like vnto an Oven having the entrie low and narrow so as they must stoope very low that should enter into it This Temple had chambers and chappells as the rest where there were convents of Priests yong men maides and children as hath beene said and there was one Priest alone resident continually the which they changed weekely For although there were in every one of these temples three or foure Curates or Ancients yet did every one serve his weeke without parting His charge that weeke after he had instructed the children was to strike vp a drumme every day at the Sunne setting to the same end that we are accustomed to ring to evensong This drumme was such as they might heare the house sound thereof throughout all the partes of the Cittie then every man shut vp his merchandise and retired vnto his house and there was so great a silence as there seemed to be no living creature in the Towne In the morning whenas the day beganne to breake they beganne to sound the drumme which was a signe of the day beginning so as travellers and strangers attended this signall to beginne their iournies for till that time it was not lawfull to goe out of the cittie There was in this temple a court of a reasonable greatnes in the which they made great dances pastimes with games or comedies the day of the idolls feast for which purpose there was in the middest of this court a theatre of thirty foote square very finely decked and trimmed the which they decked with flowers that day with all the arte and invention that mought be beeing invironed round with Arches of divers flowers and feathers and in some places there were tied many small birds connies and other tame beasts After dinner all the people assembled in this place and the players presented themselves and played comedies some counterfeit the deafe and the rheumatike others the lame some the blinde and without handes which came to seeke for cure of the idoll the deafe answered confusedly the rheumatike did cough the lame halted telling their miseries and griefes wherewith they made the people to laugh others came foorth in the forme of little beasts some were attired like snailes others like toades and some like lizardes then meeting together they tolde their offices and every one retyring to his place they founded on small flutes which was pleasant to heare They likewise counterfeited butterflies and small birdes of diverse colours and the children of the Temple represented these formes then they went into a little forrest planted there for the nonce where the Priestes of the Temple drew them foorth with instruments of musicke In the meane time they vsed many pleasant speeches some in propounding others in defending wherewith the assistants were pleasantly intertained This doone they made a maske or mummerie with all these personages and so the feast ended the which were vsually doone in their principall feasts What profit may be drawne out of this discourse of the Indians superstitions CHAP 31. THis may suffice to vnderstand the care and paine the Indians tooke to serve and honour their Idolls or rather the divell for it were an infinite matter and of small profit to report every thing that hath passed for that it may seeme to some needlesse to have spoken â—hus much and that it is a losse of time as in reading the fables that are fained by the Romaines of Knighthoode But if such as holde this opinion will looke wel into it they shall finde great difference betwixt the one and the other and that it may be profitable for many considerations to have the knowledge of the cuâ—â—oms and ceremonies the Indians vsed first this knowledge is not only profitable but also necessary in those countries where these superstitions have beene practised to the end that Christians and the maisters of the Law of Christ may know the errours and superstitions of the Antients and observe if the Indians vse them not at this day either secretly or openly For this cause many learned and worthy men have written large Discourses of what they have found yea the Provinciall counsells have commaunded them to write and print them as they have doone in Lima where hath beene made a more ample Discourse than this And therefore it importeth for the good of the Indians that the Spaniardes being in those parts of the Indies should have the knowledge of all these things This Discourse may likewise serve the Spaniards there and all others whersoever to give infinite thankes to God our Lord who hath imparted so great a benefite vnto vs giving them his holy Lawe which is most iust pure and altogether profitable The which we may well know comparing it with the lawes of Sathan where so many wretched people have lived so miserably It may likewise serve to discover the pride envy deceipts and ambushes of the Divell which he practiseth against those hee holdes captives seeing on the one side hee seekes to imitate God and make comparison with him and his holy Lawe and on the other side hee dooth mingle with his actions so many vanities filthinesse and cruelties as hee that hath no other practise but to sophisâ—â—cate and corrupt all that is good Finally hee that shall see the darkenes and blindenes wherein so many Provinces and Kingdoms have lived so long time yea and wheâ—in many Nations and a great part of the world live yet deceived with the like trumperies he can not if he have a Christians heart but give thankes to the high God for such as hee hath called out of so great darkenes to the admirable light of his Gospel beseeching the vnspeakeable charitie of the Creator to preserve and increase them in his knowledge and obedience and likewise be grieved for those that follow still the way of perdition And that in the end hee beseech the Father of Pitty to open vnto them the treasures and riches of Iesus Christ who with the Father and Holy-ghost raignes in all Ages Amen THE SIXT BOOKE of the Naturall and Morall Historie of the Indies That they erre in their opinion which holde the Indians to want iudgement CHAP. 1. HAving treated before of the religion the Indians vsed I pretend to discourse in this Booke of their customs policy and government for
together with some order and such as do know them find them no lesse apt and capable of matters of christian religion than others which are held to be more rich and better governed Comming therefore to our subiect the Chichimecas and Ottomies which were the first inhabitants of New Spaine for that they did neyther till nor sowe the land they left the best and most fertile of the country vnpeopled which Nations that came from farre did possesse whome they called Navatalcas for that it was a more civill and politike Nation this word signifies a people that speakes well in reâ—pect of other barbarous nations without reason These sâ—cond peoplers Navatalcas came from other â—arre countries which lie toward the north where now they have discovered a kingdome they call New Mexico There are two provinces in this countrey the one called AZtlan which is to say a place of Herons the other Tuculhuacan which signifies a land of such whose grandfathers were divine The Inhabitants of these provinces have their houses their lands tilled gods customes and ceremonies with like order and governement to the Navatalcas and are divided into seaven Tribes or Nations and for that they have a custome in this province that every one of these linages hath his place and private territory The Navatalcas paint their beginning and first territory in figure of a cave and say that they came forth of seaven caves to come and people the land of Mexico whereof they make mention in their Historie where they paint seaven caves and men comming forth of them By the supputation of their bookes it is above eight hundred yeeres since these Navatalcas came foorth of their country reducing which to our accompt was about the yeere of our Lord 720. when they left their country to come to Mexico they stayed foure score yeares vpon the way and the cause of this their long stay in their voyage was that their gods which without doubt were divells and spake visibly vnto them had perswaded them to seeke new lands that had certaine signes And therefore they came discovering the whole land to search for these tokens which their Idolls had given them and in places where they found any good dwellings they peopled it and laboured the land and as they discovered better countries they left those which they had first peopled lâ—aving still some especially the aged sicke folkes and the weary yea they did plant and build there whereof we see the remainders at this day In the way where they passed they spent fourescore yeares in this manner of leisurely travell the which they might have done in a moneth By this meanes they entred the land of Mexico in the yeare nine hundred and two after our computation How the six Linages of Navatlacas peopled the land of Mexico CHAP. 3. THese seaven Linages I have spoken of came not forth all together the first were the Suchimilcos which signifie a Nation of the seedes of flowers Those peopled the bankes of the great lake of Mexico towards the South and did build a cittie of their name and many villages Long time after came they of the second linage called Chalcas which signifies people of mouthes who also built a cittie of their name dividing their limmits and territories with the Suchimilcos The third were the Tepanecans which signifies people of the bridge they did inhabite vpon the banke of the lake towards the West and they increased so as they called the chiefe and Metropolitane of their Province AzcapuZalco which is to say an Ants nest and they continued long time mighty After them came those that peopled Tescuco which be those of Culhua which is to say a crooked people for that in their Countrey there was a mountaine much bending And in this sort this lake was invironed with these foure Nations these inhabiting on the East and the Tepanecas on the North. These of Tescuco were held for great Courtiers for their tongue and pronountiation is very sweete and pleasant Then arrived the Tlalluicans which signifies men of the Sierre or mountaine Those were the most rude and grosse of all the rest who finding all the plaines about the lake possessed even vnto the Sierre they passed to the other side of the mountaine where they found a very fertile spatious warme countrey where they built many great villages calling the Metropolitane of their province Quahunachua which is as much to say as a place that sounds the voice of an Egle which our common people call by corruption Quernavaca and at this day they call this province the Marquisate Those of the sixt generation which are the Tlascaltecans which is to say men of bread passed the mountaine towards the east crossing all the Sierre or mountaine of Menade where that famous Vulcan is betwixt Mexico and the citty of Angells where they did finde a good country making many buildings They built many townes and citties whereof the Metropolitane was called by their name Tlascala This is the nation which favoured the Spaniards at their entrie by whosâ— help they did winne this country and therefore to this day they pay no tribute but enioy a generall exemption When all these Nations peopled these countries the Chinchimecans being the antient inhabitants made no resistance but fledde and as people amazed they hid themselves in the most obscure of the rockes But those that inhabited on th' other side of the mountaine where the Tlascaltecans had planted themselves did not suffer them in quiet as the rest of the Chichimecans had done but they put themselves in defâ—nce to preserve their country and being giants as the Histories report they sought to expell the last commers but they were vanquisht by the policy of the Tlascaltecans who counterfetting a peace with them they invited them to a great banquet and when they were busiest in their drunkennes there were some laide in ambush who secretly stole away their weapons which were great clubbes targets swords of wood and other sucâ— armes Then did they sodainely set vpon them and the Chichimecas seeking to defend themselves they did want their armes so as they fled to the mountaines and forrests adioyning where they pulled downe trees as if they had beene stalkes of lettices But in the end the Tluscaltecans being armed and marching in order they defeated all the giants not leaving one alive We must not holde this of the giants to be strange or a fable for at this day we finde dead mens bones of an incredible bignes When I was in Mexico in the yeare of our Lorde one thousand five hundred eighty sixe they found one of those giants buried in one of our farmes which we call Iesus du Mont of whom they brought a tooth to be seene which without augmenting was as big as the fist of a man and according to this all the rest was proportionable which I saw and admired at his deformed greatnes The Tlascaltecans by this victory remained peaceable and so did the rest of
Gallies go and come daily coasting along the shoare In some partes of the Ocean they may not looke for any other winde then that which blowes for that commonly it continues long To conclude that which is good to go by is not fit to returne with for in the sea beyond the Tropicke and within the burning Zone the Easterly windes raine continually not suffering their contraries In the which region there are two strange things the one is that in that Zone being the greatest of the five into the which the world is divided the Easterly windes which they call Brises do raine not suffering the Westerne or Southerne which they call lower windes to have their course at any season of the yeere The other wonder is that these Easterly windes never cease to blow and most commonly in places neerest to the line where it seemes that calmes should be more frequent being a part of the world most subiâ—ct to the heate of the Sunne but it is contrarie for you shall hardly finde any calmes there and the winde is cold and continues longer which hath been found true in all the navigations of the Indies This is the reason why the voyage they make from Spaine to the West Indies is shorter more easie and more assured then the returne to Spaine The fleetes parting from Siville have more difficultie to passe the Canaries for that the gulph of Yegues or of Mares is variable being beaten with divers windes but having passed the Canaries they saile with a westerne winde vntill they come to the burning Zone where presently they finde an Easterly winde and so they saile on with full windes so as they have scant any neâ—de to touch their sailes in the whole voiage for this reason they called this great gulph the gulph of Dances for the calmenes and pleasantnes thereof Then following their course they come to the Ilands of Guadelupe Dominique Desirâ—e Marigualante and the rest which in that place be as it were the suburbs of the Indies There the fleetes seperate and divide themselves whereof some which go to new Spaine take to the right hand towards Hispaniola and having discovered Cape S. Anthonie they passe vnto S. Ihon Delua alwaies vsing the same Easterly windes Those for the maine Land take the left hand discovering the high mountaine of Tayrone then having touched at Carthagene they passe vnto Nombre de Dios from whence they go by land to Panama and from thence by the South sea to Peru. But when the fleetes returne to Spaine they make their voiage in this sort The fleete of Peru discovers Cape S. Anthonie then they enter into the Havana which is a goodly Port in the Iland of Cuba The fleete of new Spaine doth likewise touch at the Havana being parted from the true Crosse or from the Iland of S. Ihon Delua the which is not without difficultie for that commonly Easterly windes blow there which is a contrarie winde to go to the Havana These fleetes being ioyned together for Spaine they seeke their height without the Tropicks where presently they finde Westerly winds which serve them vntill they come in view of the Acores or Terceres and from thence to Seville So as their voiage in going is of a small height not above twentie degrees from the line which is within the Tropickes But the returne is without the Tropickes in eight and twentie or thirtie degrees of height at the least for that within the Tropickes the Easterne winds continually blow the which are fittest to go from Spaine to the West Indies for that their course is from East to west and without the Tropickes which is in three and twentie degrees of height they finde westerly winds the which are the more certaine and ordinarie the farther you are from the line and more fit to returne from the Indies for that they are windes blowing from the South and West which serve to runne into the East and North. The like discourse is of the Navigation made into the South sea going from new Spaine or Peru to the Philippines or China and returning from the Philippines or China to new Spaine the which is easie for that they saile alwaies from East to West neere the line where they finde the Easterly windes to blow in their poope In the yeere 1584. there went a shippe from Calloâ— in Lima to the Philippines which sailed 2000. and 700. leagues without sight of land and the first it discovered was the Iland of Lusson where they tooke port having performed their voiage in two moneths without want of winde or any torment and their course was almost continually vnder the line for that from Lima which is twelve degrees to the South he came to Menilla which is as much to the North. The like good fortune had Alvaro de Mandana whenas he went to discover the Ilands of Soloman for that he had alwaies a full gale vntill he came within view of these Ilands the which must be distant from that place of Peru from whence he parted about a thousand leagues having runne their course alwaies in one height to the South The returne is like vnto the voiage from the Indies vnto Spaine for those which returne from the Philippines or China to Mexico to the end they may recover the Westerne windes they mount a great height vntill they come right against the Ilands of Iappon and discovering the Caliphornes they returne by the coast of new Spaine to the Port of Acapulco from whence they parted So as it is proved likewise by this navigation that they saile easily from East to West within the Tropickes for that their Easterly windes do raine but returning from West to East they must seeke the Westerne windes without the Tropickes in the height of seven and twentie degrees The Portingales prove the like in their navigations to the East Indies although it be in a contrarie course for that going from Portugall the voiage is troublesome but their returne is more easie for that in going their course is from the West to the East so as they must of necessitie mount vntill they have found their generall windes which they hold to be above the seven and twentith degree And in their returne they discover the Terceres but with more ease for that they come from the East where the Easterly or Northerne windes do serve them Finally the Marriners hold it for a certaine rule and observation that within the Tropickes continually raine Easterly windes and therefore it is very easie to saile to the West But without the Tropickes there are in some seasons Easterly windes and in some and more ordinarie Westerne windes by reason whereof they which saile from West to East labour alwaies to be out of of the burning Zone to put themselves in the height of seven and twentie degrees And for this reason men have indangered themselves to vndertake strange Navigations and to seeke out farre Countries vnknowne Of the differences of the Brises or