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city_n	abandon_v	place_n	spacious_a	35	3	11.3874	5	false

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A10231	Purchas his pilgrimage. Or Relations of the vvorld and the religions obserued in all ages and places discouered, from the Creation vnto this present Contayning a theologicall and geographicall historie of Asia, Africa, and America, with the ilands adiacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the Floud ... The fourth edition, much enlarged with additions, and illustrated with mappes through the whole worke; and three whole treatises annexed, one of Russia and other northeasterne regions by Sr. Ierome Horsey; the second of the Gulfe of Bengala by Master William Methold; the third of the Saracenicall empire, translated out of Arabike by T. Erpenius. By Samuel Purchas, parson of St. Martins by Ludgate, London.	Purchas, Samuel, 1577?-1626.; Makīn, Jirjis ibn al-ʻAmīd, 1205-1273. Taŕikh al-Muslimin. English.; Methold, William, 1590-1653.; Horsey, Jerome, Sir, d. 1626.	1626 (1626)	STC 20508.5; ESTC S111832	2,067,390	1,140

flat hearth against a wall and there they toaste their meate rather then roast it The decency of their streets in commendable for when you are in the centre of the City your eye reacheth almost to the extreamest parts thereof They haue no want of water The City hath its name from a great standing Lake at the West end of it vpon which there are cōmonly diuers sorts of fresh water-fowles The haggard Falcons doe euery euening flye vpon this Lake and the Negros with slings beate them which is the noblest sport of that kind in the world for the stoopings are many and at one time and the Hawkes the strongest and best mettalled of all other of a greater kind then the Barbary Falcons The Viceroy being one euening to see this naturall sport and he demanding of me what I thought thereof and I iustly commending the strength and mettall of the Hawkes assured me vpon his honour that a Falcon bred in that Iland which hee had formerly sent to the Duke of Lermo did at one flight except she rested vpon ships by the way passe from Andaluzia to Tenariff which is 250. Spanish leagues and was there taken vp halfe dead with the Dukes Varuels on And the time from her going out to her being taken vp exceeded not sixteene houres c. But I dare not dwell any longer with this industrious Gentleman in these Canaries and had need borrow the wings of one of these Hawkes to make a swift flight to some other African Ilands where next you shall find vs within the Mediterranean §. IIII. Of Malta and the Nauigations about Africa WIthin the Straits are no great Ilands belonging to Africa Pennon or the Rock against Velles de Gumera the I le of Gerbi some others Malta is the most famous where in old time was the Temple of Iuno spoyled by Verres supposed to be that Melita where Paul suffered shipwrack although there be another Melita in the Adriatike Sea neere to Dalmatia Polybius calleth it Melytusa as Volaterranus writeth Ptolomie and Cicero name Melita now called Malta in this I le of Malta This Malta is distant from Sicilia 60. miles from Africa 190. It hath bin sometime subiect to the Carthaginians as may appeare by diuers Monuments with Inscriptions of Carthaginian Letters and the Ilanders it our Authour say truely can vnderstand that Scene in Plautus before mentioned Eloi Effetcha Cumi words vsed in Scripture are likewise vsed in the Maltese Their manner of life is Sicilian But we may not dwell here Some ascribe Pauls shipwracke to Melita in the Adriatike neere to Dalmatia whom Beza learnedly confuteth : and prooueth it to bee that Malta which now the Knights hold against the Turke whose valour and successe in resisting that mighty Turkish Aduersary Curio and Io. Antonius Viperanus in their Bookes of that Argument Knolles in his Turkish History Ri. Carre and others relate at large It was An. 1565. That which deceiueth those Men in Malta is the name of the Adriatike Sea which now is giuen to the gulfe of Venice but then as Beza Aretius shew out of Strabo l. 3. was giuen to the Ionian Sea also and further Southwards where Mal a standeth and Ortelius out or Ouid and others proueth the same as doth also that Epitome of all Learning Io. Scaliger That learned Gentleman M. Sandys in the fourth Book of his Iournall hath largely related of this Iland It contayneth after his description sixty miles in circuit a Countrey altogether champaine being no other then a Rock couered ouer with earth but two foot where deepest hauing few trees but such as beare fruit whereof all sorts plentifully so that their wood they haue from Sicilia Yet there is a great Thistle which together with Cow-dung serues the Countrey people for fewell the lesse needfull by the immoderate heate there exceeding far any other seated in the same parallel yet sometimes tempered by the winds to which it lies open Riuers here are none but sundry Fountaynes The soyle produceth no graine but Barley bread made of it and Oliues is the Villagers ordinary dyet and with the straw they sustayne their Cattle Commin-seed Annis-seed and Hony they haue here in abundance and an indifferent quantity of the best Cotton Wooll The Inhabitants dye more by Age then Diseases and heretofore were reputed fortunate for their excellency in Arts curious weauing This Iland was giuen by Charles the Fift to the Knights Hospitalers after their losse of Rhodes whose first seat was the Hospitall of S. Iohn in Ierusalem built by one Gerard at such time as the Holy Land became famous by the successeful expeditions of the Christians whose rites are recorded by many Authors but by vs to be reserued for another taske There are sixty Villages in the Iland vnder the command of ten Captaines and foure Cities Old Malta supposed the worke of the Phoenicians is seated on a Hill in the mids of the Iland kept with a Garrison though of small importance In it is a Grot of great veneration because they suppose that Paul lay there after his shipwracke The other three Cities if they may so bee termed are about eight miles distant and not much without a Musket shot each of other neere the East end and on the North side of the Iland where there is a double Hauen diuided by a tongue of a Rock On the top of this tongue stands the Castle of S. Hermes after 20000. shot and the losse of 10000. liues taken by the Turks But so could they not that of S. Angelo which onely Burgo escaped their fury in that their siege After their departure when the Knights had thought to haue abandoned the Iland by the helps of the Pope Florentine and especially the Spaniard they were furnished with prouisions for new fortifications and added a new strong City called Valetta in honour of him that then was their Great Master Iohn de Valetta The Great Masters Palace is a princely structure the market place spacious the Church of S. Paul magnificent as that also of S. Iohn the houses vniforme of free stone two stories flat roofed S. Iohns Hospitall giues entertaynment to all that fall sick the attendants many the beds ouer-spred with faire Canopies euery fortnight hauing change of linnen serued by the Iunior Knights in siluer and euery Friday by the Great Master accompanied with the great Crosses a seruice whereto they are obliged as their name of Hospitular Knights also importeth It is victualled for three yeeres supplied from Siçilia The Iland hath not of liuing soules aboue 20000. Their expeditions are vsually but for booties The people almost as tawny as Moores the heat makes them sleep at noone These Votaries haue store of Curtizans for the most part Greeks which sit playing in their doores on Instruments by their eyes bewitching vnstable soules their vow rather prohibiting if the practice interpret Mariage then incontinencie

men and women these hiding their faces with beastly clowts with holes for their eyes hauing easie trauell those which are borne in the eighth moneth liuing elsewhere deadly to that purpose setting a plant in the roome which growes in the Desarts low leafelesse browne branched like Corall and set in water doth then strangely display it selfe A nastie people crusted with dirt and sooted with smoke by reason of their fuell and want of chimneyes in their base cottages The women thinke it a great comelinesse to bee fat and therefore in the Cities being wrapt from the crowne of the head to the foot in linnen Robes they spreade their armes vnderneath to appeare more corpulent They couer their faces with blacke Cypres bespotted with red The better sort weare hoopes of gold and siluer about their armes and aboue their ankles others of copper with pieces of coine halfe couering their foreheads and plates about their necks Both men and women brand their armes for the loue of each other diuers women stayning their chinnes with knots and flowers of blue made by pricking of the skinne with needles and rubbing it ouer with inke and the iuyce of an herbe which will neuer out Cairo which wee had almost forgotten in this generall view of the moderne Egyptians is seated on the East side of the Riuer representing the forme of a Crescent stretching South and North with the adioyning Suburbs fiue Italian miles in breadth scarce one and a halfe where broadest the walls if it bee walled rather seeming to belong to priuate houses the streets narrow the houses high built more faire without then inwardly commodious and most of stone neere to the top at the end almost of each street a gate which shot as euery night they are make them defensiue as so many Castles Their locks and keyes be of wood euen to doores platted with Iron The Mosques are magnificent the stones of many being carued without supported with pillars of marble adorned with what Art can deuise and their Religion tolerate Yet differ they in forme from those of Constantinople some being square with open roofes in the middle of a huge proportion the couered circle tarrast aboue others stretched out in length and many fitted vnto the place where they stand adioyning to which are lodgings for Santons Fooles and mad men whom their deuotion honoureth Here be also diuers goodly Hospitals both for building reuenue and attendance Next to these in beautie are the great Mens Seraglios by which if a Christian ride they will put him from his Asse with indignation and contumelie The streets are vnpaued and exceeding durtie after a showre for here it rayneth sometimes in winter and then most subiect to plagues ouer which many beames are laid athwart on the tops of houses and couered with mats to shelter them from the Sunne The like couerture there is betweene two high Mosques in the principall street vnder which when any great Man passeth they shoote vp arrowes that sticke there in abundance The Nile a mile distant in the time of the inundation flowes in by sundrie channels which growing emptie or corrupted they haue it brought on Camels their Well water being good for no other vse but to wash houses or clense the streets In the midst of the Towne is a spacious Caue called the Besestan in which are sold all finer wares and old things as at out-cryes by the Call Who giues more There are three principall gates neere to the Northermost of which sometime stood that stately Palace of Dultibe wife to Caitbeus the Sultan which had the doores and jawmes of Iuorie the walls and pauements checkered with discoloured marble Columnes of Porphyre Alablaster and Serpentine feelings flourished with Gold and Azure inlaid with Ebonie but ruined by Zelim the Turke and the stones and ornaments transported to Constantinople Neere to this is the lake Esbiky square and large then onely a Lake when Nilus ouerfloweth frequented with barges of pleasure at other times as profitable as then pleasant affoording fiue haruests in a yeere Within and without the Citie are a number of delicate Orchards watered as they doe their fields in which grow varietie of excellent fruits as Oranges Limons Pomegranates Apples of Paradise Sicamor figs and another kinde growing on Trees as bigge as Oakes boared full of holes the fruit not growing amongst the leaues but out of the bole and branches Dates Almonds Cassia fistula leafed like an Ash the fruit hanging downe like Sausages Apples no bigger then berries Galls growing on Tamariskes Plantains that haue a broad flaggie leafe growing in clusters and shaped like Cucumbers the rinde like a Pease-cod solide within without stones or kernels to the taste very delicious holden by the Mahumetans the forbidden fruit in Paradise and many other Trees some bearing fruit all the yeere and almost all their leaues To these adde whole fields of Palmes and yet no preiudice to the vnder growing Corne these are naturall others planted and onely Orchards pleasant in forme in fruit profitable of body strait high round and slender yet vnfit for buildings crested about and therefore easily climbed the branches like Sedges slit on the neat her side and euer greene growing onely on the top as plumes of feathers yeerly pruned and the bole at the top bared There are Male and Female both bearing Cods but this onely fruitfull yet not without the Males neighbourhood towards whose vpright growth shee enclines her crowne hauing in the beginning of March her seedes commixed with his Their Dates grow like fingers whence they haue their name ripe in the end of December which began to Cod in Februarie the tops of such as are fruitlesse they open and take out the braine which they sell for a Sallad better then an Artichoke of the branches they make bedsteds Latices c. of the webbe of the leaues Baskets Mats Fans and the like of the outward huske of the Cod good cordage of the inward Brushes all this they yeerly affoord without empayring the Tree At the South end of the Citie stands the Castle once the Mansion of the Mamaluke Sultans ascended vnto by one way onely and that hewen out of the Rocke by the easie steepes on horse-backe to bee ascended From the top the Citie and Countrey yeeld a delightfull prospect It is so great that it seemes a Citie of it selfe immured with high walls diuided into partitions and entered by doores of Iron wherein are many spacious Courts in times past the places of exercise The ruines testifie a qucudam sumptuousnesse many pillars of solide marble yet remayning so huge that they cause lust wonder how they were thither conueyed Here hath the Bassa his residence and herein the Diuan is kept on Sundayes Mundayes and Tuesdayes the Chauses as Aduocates preferring the suites of their Clients The Bassa commandeth as absolute Soueraigne hath vnder him sixteene Sanziacks and a hundred thousand Spacheis The reuenues of this little

them prisoners that one Sunne onely may shine in that Ethiopian Throne It is situate in a great Plaine largely extending it selfe euery way without other hill in the same for the space of 30. leagues the forme thereof round and circular the height such that it is a daies worke to ascend from the foot to the top round about the rock is cut so smooth and euen without any vnequall swellings that it seemeth to him that stands beneath like a high wall wheron the Heauen is as it were propped and at the top it is ouer-hanged with rocks jutting forth of the sides the space of a mile bearing out like mushromes so that it is impossible to ascend it or by ramming with earth battering with Canon scaling or otherwise to win it It is aboue 20. leagues in circuit compassed with a wall on the top well wrought that neither man nor beast in chase may fall downe The top is a plaine field onely toward the South is a rising Hil beautifying this Plaine as it were with a watch-tower not seruing alone to the eye but yeelding also a pleasant spring which passeth through all that Plaine paying his tributes to euery Garden that will exact it and making a Lake whence issueth a Riuer which hauing from these tops espied Nilus neuer leaues seeking to finde him whom he cannot leaue both to seeke and finde that by his direction and conueyance hee may together with him present himselfe before the Father and great King of waters the Sea The way vp to it is cut out within the Rooke not with staires but ascending by little and little that one may ride vp with ease it hath also holes cut to let in light and at the foote of this ascending place a faire gate with a Corpus du Guarde Halfe way vp is a faire and spacious Hall cut out of the same Rocke with three windowes very large vpwards the ascent is about the length of a lance and a halfe and at the top is a gate with another guard The aire aboue is wholesome and delectable and they liue there very long and without sicknesse There are no Cities on the top but palaces standing by themselues in number foure and thirtie spacious sumptuous and beautifull where the Princes of the Royall bloud haue their abode with their Families The Souldiers that guard the place dwell in Tents There are two Temples built before the raigne of the Queene of Saba one in honour of the Sunne the other of the Moone the most magnificent in all Ethiopia which by Caudace when shee was conuerted to the Christian faith were consecrated in the name of the Holy Ghost and of the Crosse At that time they tell Caudace ascending with the Eunuch whose proper name was Iudica to baptize all of the Royall bloud which were there kept Zacharie the eldest of them was in his baptisme named Philip in remembrance of Philips conuerting the Eunuch which caused all the Emperours to be called by that name till Iohn the Saint who would be called Iohn because he was crowned on Saint Iohns day and while they were busie in that holy worke of baptizing the Princes a Doue in fierie forme came flying with beames of light and lighted on the highest Temple dedicated to the Sunne whereupon it was afterwards consecrated to the Holy Ghost by Saint Matthew the Apostle when he preached in Ethiopia Those two Temples were after that giuen to the Monasticall Knights of the Militarie Order of Saint Anthonie by Philip the seuenth with two great and spacious Couents built for them I should lose both you and my selfe if I should leade you into their sweet flourishing and fruitfull gardens whereof there are store in this Plaine curiously made and plentifully furnished with fruits both of Europe plants there as Peares Pippins and such like and of their owne as Oranges Citrons Limons and the rest Cedars Palme-trees with other Trees and varietie of herbes and flowers to satisfie the sight taste and sent But I would entertayne you onely with rarities no where else to be found and such is the Cubayo tree pleasant beyond all comparison in taste and whereunto for the vertue is imputed the health and long life of the Inhabitants and the Balme tree whereof there is great store here and hence it is thought the Queene of Saba carried and gaue to Salomon who planted them in Iudaea from whence they were transplanted at Cairo long after The plentie of Graines and Corne there growing the charmes of birds alluring the eares with their warbling Notes and fixing the eyes on their colours ioyntly agreeing in beautie by their disagreeing varietie and other Creatures that adorne this Paradise might make me glut you as sweet meates vsually doe with too much store Let vs herefore take view of some other things worthy our admiration in this admired Hill taking the Friar for our guide whose credit I leaue to your censure §. II. His liberall reports of the Librarie and incredible treasures therein SVch is the stately building of the two Churches aforesaid with their Monasteries the pillars and roofes of stone richly and cunningly wrought the matter and the workmanship conspiring magnificence that of Iasper Alabaster Marble Porphetie this with painting gilding and much curiositie the two Monasteries contayning each of them 1500. religious Knights and Monkes each hauing also two Abbots one of the militarie Knights the other spirituall of the Monkes inferior to the former In the Monasterie of the Holy Crosse are two rare peeces whereon Wonder may iustly fasten both her eyes the Treasurie and Librarie of the Emperor neither of which is thought to be marchable in the world That Librarie of Constantinople wherein were 120000. bookes nor that at Pergamus of 200000. nor the Alexandrian Librarie wherein Gellius numbreth 700000. had the fire not beene admitted too hastie a Student to consume them yet had they come short if report ouer-reach not of this whereof wee speake their number is in a manner innumerable their price inestimable The Queene of Saba they say procured bookes hither from all parts besides many which Salomon gaue her and from that time to this their Emperors haue succeeded in like care and diligence There are three great Halls each aboue two hundred paces large with bookes of all Sciences written in fine parchment with much curiositie of golden Letters and other workes and cost in the writing binding and couers some on the floore some on shelues about the sides there are few of paper which is but a new thing in Ethiopia There are the writings of Enoch copied out of the stones wherein they were engrauen which entreat of Philosophy of the Heauens and Elements Others go vnder the name of Noe the subiect whereof is Cosmography Mathematikes Ceremonies and Prayers some of Abraham which he composed when he dwelt in the Valley of Mamre and there read publikely Philosophy and the Mathematikes There is very much of Salomon a great number passing

Diarbech The chiefe Cities in it are Orfa of seuen miles compasse famous say some for the death of Crassus Caramit the mother Citie of the Countrey of twelue miles compasse Mosul and Merdin of which in the next Chapter Betweene Orpha and Caramit was the Paradise of Aladeules where hee had a fortresse destroyed by Selim. This his Paradise was like to that which you shall finde in our Persian Historie Men by a potion brought into a sleepe were brought into this supposed Paradise where at their waking they were presented with all sensuall pleasures of musicke damosels dainties c. which hauing had some taste of another sleepie drinke after came againe to themselues And then did Aladeules tell them That he could bring whom hee pleased to Paradise the place where they had beene and if they would commit such murders or haughtie attempts it should bee theirs A dangerous deuice Zelim the Turke destroyed the place CHAP. XIIII Of Niniue and other neighbouring Nations WE haue hitherto spoken of Babylonia but so as in regard of the Empire and some other occurrents necessitie now and then compelled vs to make excursions into some other parts of Assyria Mesopotamia c. And I know not how this Babylon causeth confusion in that Sea of affaires and in regard of the diuision of the pennes as sometimes of tongues of such as haue written thereof Hard it is to distinguish betweene the Assyrian and Babylonian Empire one while vnited another while diuided as each partie could most preuaile and no lesse hard to reconcile the Ethnike and Diuine Historie touching the same Ptolemey straitneth Assyria on the North with part of Armenia neere the hill Niphates on the West with Mesopotamia on the South with Susiana and Media on the East But her large Empire hath enlarged the name of Syria and of Assyria which names the Greekes did not well distinguish to many Countries in that part of Asia The Scripture deriueth Syria from Aram and Assyria from Ashur Both were in their times flourishing and mention is made from Abrahams time both of the warres and kingdomes in those parts yea before from Ashur and Nimrod as alreadie is shewed Mesopotamia is so called and in the Scripture Aram or Syria of the waters because it is situate betweene Euphrates and Tygris the countries Babylonia and Armenia confining the same on the North and South Whereas therefore wee haue in our former Babylonian relation discoursed of Assyria extending the name after a larger reckoning here wee consider it more properly Euphrates is a Riuer very swift for they which goe to Bagdet buy their boats at Birra which serue them but one voyage and sell them at Felugia for seuen or eight which cost fiftie because they cannot returne But Tygris is swifter the Armenians bring victuals downe the same to Bagdet on rafts made of Goats skinnes blowne full of wind and boords laid vpon them on which they lade their goods which being discharged they open the skinnes and carrie them backe on Camels Dionysius and Strabo tell of this Riuer that it passeth through the Lake Thonitis without mixture of waters by reason of this swiftnesse which also giueth it the name for the Medes call an Arrow Tygris Lucan sayth it passeth a great way vnder ground and wearie of that burthensome iourney riseth againe as out of a new fountaine At Tygrim subito tellus absorbet hiatu Occultosque tegit cursus rursusque renatum Fonte nouo flumen pelagi non abnegat vndas The chiefe Citie in these parts was Niniue called in Ionas A great and excellent Citie of three dayes iourney It had I borrow the words of our reuerend Diocesan an ancient testimonie long before in the Booke of Genesis For thus Moses writeth That Ashur came from the land of Shinar and built Niniueh and Rehoboth and Calah and Resin At length he singleth out Niniue from the rest and setteth a speciall marke of preeminence vpon it This is a great Citie which honour by the iudgement of the most learned though standing in the last place belongeth to the first of the foure Cities namely to Niniue Others imagined but their coniecture is without ground that the foure Cities were closed vp within the same walls and made but one of an vsuall bignesse Some ascribe the building of Niniue to Ninus the sonne of Belus of whom it tooke the name to be called either Ninus as wee reade in Plinie or after the manner of the Hebrewes Niniue They conceiue it thus That when Nimrod had built Babylon Ninus disdaining his gouernment went into the fields of Ashur and there erected a Citie after his owne name betweene the riuers Lycus and Tygris Others suppose that the affinitie betwixt these names Ninus and Niniueh deceiued profane Writers touching the Author thereof and that it tooke to name Niniueh because it was beautifull or pleasant Others hold opinion that Ashur and Ninus are but one and the same person And lastly to conclude the iudgement of some learned is that neither Ashur nor Ninus but Nimrod himselfe was the founder of it But by the confession of all both sacred and Gentile Histories the Citie was very spacious hauing foure hundred and fourescore furlongs in circuit when Babylon had fewer almost as some report by an hundred and as afterwards it grew in wealth and magnificence so they write it was much more enlarged Raphael Volaterranus affirmeth That it was eight yeeres in building and not by fewer at once then tenne thousand workemen There was no Citie since by the estimation of Diodorus Siculus that had like compasse of ground or statelinesse of walls the height whereof was not lesse then an hundred foot the breadth sufficiently capable to haue receiued three Carts on a row and they were furnished and adorned besides with fifteene hundred Turrets Thus farre our reuerend and learned Bishop Diodorus telleth out of Ctesias that Ninus after he had subdued the Egyptians Phoenicians Syrians Cilicians Phrygians and others as farre as Tanais and the Hyrcanians Parthians Persians and other their neighbours he built this Citie After that hee led an armie against the Bactrians of seuenteene hundred thousand footmen and two hundred thousand horse in which Expedition he tooke Semiramis from her husband Menon who therefore impatient of loue and griefe hanged himselfe Hee had by her a sonne of his owne name and then died leauing the Empire to his wife His Sepulchre was nine furlongs in height each of which is sixe hundred feete and ten in breadth The credite of this Historie I leaue to the Author scarce seeming to agree with Moses narration of the building of Niniue any more then Semiramis building of Babylon Some write That Semiramis abusing her husbands loue obtained of him the swaying of the Empire for the space of fiue dayes in which shee depriued him of his life and succeeded in his estate But lest the

after held cruell fight with twelue great Gallies full of Ianizaries and choice men whom he ouerthrew and tooke But the Ianizaries that were left cast their Scimaters ouer-boord least such choice weapons should come to the Christians hands Solyman conuerting his forces against the Venetians for the indignities mentioned had almost fallen into the hands of the Mountaine-Theeues which liued in the Acroceranian Hills who in a strange resolution had conspired to kill him in his Tent and had almost to the wonder of the world in a night by vnknowne wayes suddenly effected it had not the cracking of a bough discouered their Captaine who in a tree was taking view of the Campe how to bring to passe his desperate designes This their Captaine by name Damianus was after confession hereof torne in pieces and those wilde Mountainers liuing on robberie without Law or Religion were like wilde beasts hunted to destruction The Turkes inuaded Corfu whence they carried sixteene thousand of the Islanders captiues They likewise in their returne committed great spoyle in Zante and Cythera sacked Aegina Paros and other Ilands in the Archipelago bringing Naxos vnder tribute Barbarussa sacked Botrotus a Venetian Citie The like did Vstrif to Obroatium and the Castle of Nadin Nauplium also and Epidaurus were besieged But Ferdinand who had entituled himselfe King of Hungarie after Lewis his death receiued a greater disgrace in Hungarie by the Turkish forces then befell the Venetians in all their losses Cazzianer the Generall of the Christians shamefully flying and betraying his associates to the Turkish crueltie The next yeere 1538. Barbarussa chaseth the Christian Fleet in which the Emperours Venetians and the Popes forces were ioyned In the yeere 1541. Solyman againe inuadeth Hungarie professing himselfe Protector of the young King which Iohn late King of Hungarie who had held long warres with Ferdinand about that Title had left behinde him his heire and successor But vnder colour of protection hee maketh himselfe Lord of Buda the chiefe Citie turning the Cathedrall Church into a Meschit and maketh Hungarie a Turkish Prouince bestowing Transyluania and what he pleased on the Orphan Two yeeres after he reentereth Hungarie and taketh Strigonium turning the Christian Temples into Mahumetan sacrificing there for his victorie as he had done at Buda Hee entred also into Alba Regalis where the Hungarian Kings lye entombed another chiefe Citie of that Kingdome and slew the Magistrates I speake not all this while of the spacious Countries in Africa which from the Riuer Muluia hee added to his Dominions the Kingdomes of Algier Tremisen Tunes Tripoly c. being annexed to his Turkish Soueraigntie Howbeit Tunes by ayde of Charles the Emperour somewhat recouered her selfe but breathed out againe her last gaspe of libertie in the daies of Selym his sonne And thus was Solyman victorious and happy otherwhere victorious and vnhappy when he was forced to darreine battell against his owne bowels and hauing murthered Mustapha his eldest sonne the hopefullest branch in Turkish estimation that euer grew out of the Ottoman stocke hee warred against Baiazet another of his sonnes whom with foure of his children he procured to be done to death in Persia And after much domesticall trouble in his seuenth Expedition into Hungarie his Fleet in the siege of Malta being before with great disgrace repulsed he dyed at the siege of Zigeth the fourth of September 1566. §. II. Of SELIM the second and AMVRATH the third SELYM the onely sonne which the bloudie father had left aliue succeeded in the Throne not in the prowesse and valour of his father Neither hath any Turkish Sultan since his dayes led their forces in person but committed it to their Deputies and Generals except once when Mahomet the third had almost lost his Armie and himselfe Yet did this Selym by his Bassaes make him Lord of Cyprus and also of the Kingdome of Tunis But this sweet meate was sourely sauced by his exceeding losse in the Sea-fight betwixt Hali Bassa Admirall of the Turkes and Don Iohn of Austria Generall of the Fleet set forth by the Pope Spaniard and Venetian 1571. wherein an hundred threescore and one Gallies were taken fortie sunke or burnt and of Galliots and other small vessels were taken about threescore The Turkish Admirall was then slaine Wittily did a Turke descant vpon this losse of the Turkes and their gaine of Cyprus comparing this to the shauing of a mans beard which would grow againe that to the losse of an arme which once cut off cannot bee renued Lastly Tunes came in and Selym went out of this Turkish Soueraigntie both in manner together 1574. Amurath his heire began his Empire with the slaughter of his fiue brethren The mother of Solyman one of that number slew herselfe with a dagger for anguish of that losse He in viewing a new Gally by the breach of a Peece hardly escaped death thirtie of his company being slaine And because the Plague was exceeding hot hee by deuotion sought to appease diuine anger and therefore prohibited all vse of Sodomie Blasphemie and Polygamie and himselfe put out fiue hundred women out of his Seraile In a priuate habite hee visited the Markets and hanged vp the hoorders of corne He by the Tartars inuaded Polonia and Henry of France secretly leauing that Kingdome of Polonia hee wrote vnto him to chuse Stephen Battor for their King in which letters he called himselfe God of the Earth Gouernour of the whole World Messenger of God and faithfull seruant of the great Prophet which wrought so much with the Nobilitie that either they would not or durst not doe otherwise howsoeuer Maximilian had beene before by many of them chosen Tamas the Persian at the same time dying bequeathed his Crowne to Ismael his sonne whom Aidere his brother seeketh to depriue but is therefore himselfe depriued of that ambitious head which he sought to adorne with the Crowne and Ismael adding the slaughter of eight his younger brethren ascendeth the Throne which together with his life hee lost by vnnaturall trecherie of Periaconcona his sister the foure and twentieth of Nouember 1577. Mahomet his brother succeeded in this troublesome State which Amurath the Turke in these troubled waters thought fit time for himselfe to fish for Hereunto also helped the hatred and ciuill broyles in Persia for the head of Periaconcona presented to Mahomet with the haire disheuelled on a Launce and for other vncouth and bloudie spectacles Sahamal and Leuent Ogli two Georgian Lords seeking also innouations Amurath therefore in the yeere 1578. sent Mustapha Bassa which had lately conquered Cyprus with an Army of an hundred and tenne thousand into Persia who in the first battell he had with them slew fiue thousand and tooke three thousand Persians and to strike that Nation with terrour commanded a bulwarke to be framed of those heads but by an exceeding tempest which lasted foure dayes together whereby the Heauens seemed to melt themselues in teares for

China whereby they haue passage to Suceu and to the Metropolitane Citie of Chequian Hamceu This Riuer is so cloyed with ships because it is not frozen in winter that the way is stopped with multitude which made Ricius exchange his way by water into another more strange to vs by wagon if we may so call it which had but one wheele so built that one might sit in the middle as it were on horse-backe and on each side another the wagoner putting it swiftly and safely forwards with leuers or barres of wood those wagons driuen by wind and saile he mentions not and so he came speedily to Suceu and Hamceu which are of the Chinois esteemed Paradises They haue a prouerbe thien Xam thien tham ti Xam su Ham that which the Hall of heauen or Presence-chamber is in heauen that on earth are Sucen and Hamceu And first for Suceu the beautie plentie frequency situation make it admirable It is seated as Venice but better in a pleasant Riuer of fresh water if it may not rather be called a Lake for the stilnesse They may passe quite through it either by water or land all the streets and houses are founded vpon piles of Pine-tree and the merchandise brought from Marao and other parts and ports are here sold as the fittest centre for dispersion It hath one gate into the land other passages by boat innumerable bridges very stately and durable but in those narrow rills hauing one only arch butter and milke-meates no where more spent nor better wine of rice which is carried thence to Paquin by the frequencie of the Hauen and multitude of ships almost denying faith to the eyes which would thinke all the ships of the Kingdome here assembled and notwithstanding the continuall going out so supplied as if they neuer weighed the hand-made Riuers that are made from Nanquin-ward hither so peopled with Townes Cities Villages as no where in the Kingdome more as from hence also to Hamceu It is scarsely two dayes iourney from the Sea and the head of that Region in which are eight Cities When Humui expelled the Tartars this Region held out longest against him and therefore to this day payes an excessiue tribute euen halfe of all which the earth brings forth some two small Prouinces not paying so much as this one Region and the Citie alone as in the printed Booke of the Kings tributes is extant payes twelue millions to the King more then the greatest Kingdome in Europe if some haue not accounted falsely and he which knowes this Citie will not maruell at it It is still kept with a strong Garrison for feare of innouation But Hamceu or Hanceu the Metropolitane of Chequian is perhaps more to be admired situate South-east from Nanquin almost nine dayes iourney not two dayes from the Sea in 30. degrees This Prouince of Chequian is the chiefe of the thirteene washed on the East with the Sea hauing Nanquin and Kiamsi on the West Fuquian on the South Xanton on the North numbring twelue greater Cities the chiefe of sixtie three lesse besides innumerable Townes Castles Villages the best wits and most learned students in the whole Kingdome it yeelds a fertile soyle Art contending with Nature for varierie of Riuers so many as may seeme impossible to humane industrie adorned with numberlesse Bridges of many arches made of huge stones equall to the Europaean workmanship and so abounding with Mulberie trees and Silke-wormes that all the China Markets besides other Countries are hence furnished and ten vests of Silke may bee here had at a cheaper price then one of Cloth in Europe Hamceu is the chiefe Citie of this Prouince yea in all this Kingdome lesse perhaps somewhat in compasse of walls then Nanquin but better peopled no place in the Citie emptie nor occupied with Gardens but all builded and all the buildings almost with diuers stories which in other Cities of China is not vsuall The Inhabitants are so many and the Tribute so much that the Iesuites durst not relate that which hereof they had heard by graue testimonie for the incredibilitie the description would aske a whole volume The chiefe street is almost halfe a dayes iourney in length and cannot be lesse then admirable For whereas the Chinois vse to erect triumphall Arches as Monuments to wel-deseruing Magistrates and ornaments to their Cities this one street hath at least three hundred such besides very many others in other parts of the Citie of massie stones and exceeding curious workmanship that if the houses on both sides yeelded the like splendour the world could not shew such a spectacle But they occupie it all with shops and build the most magnificence of their houses inwards and yet those not like the Europaean Palaces There is also a Lake close to the Citie which the eye can scarcely measure which sliding into a valley encompassing embossed with diuers hillockes hath giuen occasion to Arte to shew her vtmost in the adorning the same beautifying all those spacious bankes with houses gardens groues a very labyrinth to the bewitched eyes not knowing whereat most in this maze to be most amazed wherein most to delight And in delights doe they spend their dayes filling the Lake with vessels furnished with feasts spectacles and playes on the water There is a pleasant Hill in the middle of the Citie whereon is a faire Tower or Steeple where they measure their houres by a strange deuice Out of huge vessels water droppeth from one to another the lowest being very large in the middle whereof is perpendicularly raised a rule distinguished with houre-spaces which by the ascent or descent of the water diuide the rising and declining day and declare the houres euery halfe houre some men appointed by tables with cubitall letters to giue notice of the time to all men From this Hill is a prospect ouer all the Citie All the streets being set with trees make shew of pleasant gardens It is so full of Riuers Lakes Rills Ponds both in the Citie and Suburbs as if a man would frame a Platonicall Idaea of elegancie to his minde The Idoll Temples are many and stately which Idolatrie where it is wanting in China hath a worse successour Atheisme Let vs stay a while and gaze for where haue you such an Obiect Is not Quinsay whilome the Royall Seat of the Kings of Mangi as Venetus recordeth supposed by our moderne Geographers to be swallowed vp with some Earthquake or in Bellona's all-consuming bellie here raised vp from the graue The Lake situate on the one side so Paulus reports of Quinsay the Name Quinsay signifying the Citie of Heauen and this called a Heauenly Paradise by the Chinois and Han signifies Lactea via in Heauen and Ceu perfect yea Quinsay or as Odoricus calls it Canasia and Han or Chanceu not so disagreeing in sound as different Dialects are wont the excellency being chiefe Citie in the Kingdome and this Prouince sometimes royall

Richard a small Pinnasse of about twentie Tuns which tooke a Portugall Ship supposed of two hundred and fiftie that hauing about fourteene men and boyes this two hundred and fiftie These and other fights with them and more vnfortunate with the Dutch in those parts I haue deliuered at large in my Pilgrims or Bookes of Voyages which now together with this commeth to the publike view of the World §. V. Of the Trauels of diuers English-men in the Mogols Dominions OF the Trauells of Master Fitch in these parts wee haue alreadie spoken and of Captaine Hawkins In the yeere 1609. the Ascension by wilfulnesse of the Master as is reported foundred in the Sea twentie leagues from shoare which yet they attained being fiue and fiftie persons in the Riuer of Gandeuee from whence they trauelled twelue Course or eighteene Miles to Sabay and twelue Course more to Surrat from thence to Daytaotote which Citie hee saith could not bee conquered by the Mogol and yeelded vpon composition hauing still a Banyan King Sixe and twentie Course further is Netherbery a great Basar or Market of Brazen wares Armour and Beasts Eight and twentie Course beyond is the Towne Saddisee on the Riuer Tyndee which runs to Surrat and diuideth the Bannians and Guzurats Thence they trauelled twelue Course to a Monasterie and the next day came to Bramport where the Great Generall called Can Cannawe liueth who on the twelfth of October returned from the Warres with fifteene hundred Elephants thirtie thousand Horses ten thousand Camels three thousand Dromedaries This Citie is farre bigger then London of great Trade and faire From hence they went fifteene Courses to Caddor fourteene to Sawbon and thence with the Carauan many daies leauing which they ioyned with a Can of the Countrey bound for Agra trauelling sixe daies through a Desart wherein are store of wild Elephants Lions Tygres Cat of Mountaines Porpentines and other wild Beasts innumerable but these they saw and were forced to make fires in the nights about their Tents to guard them These Desarts are a hundred Course long each Course being a mile and halfe They had in their way after they were past this Desart the Citie Handee where the King hath a Castle and House cut out of the maine Rock and wrought with carued worke round about in it fiftie Peeces of Ordnance a Fort impregnable and made a Prison for great Men. Heere were also two Hospitals for Captaines maymed in the Warres The next day they came to Tamlico which runneth into Indus and two daies after to Agra He tells of Elephants fighting before the Mogol parted with Rackets of wilde fire made round like hoopes which they runne in their faces some fight with wild Horses sixe Horses to an Elephant which he kills with clasping his trunke about their necks and pulling them to him breakes their necks with his teeth Hee hath also Deere Rams Veruathoes or Bezors Lyons Leopards Wolues that fight before him Condemned persons may craue the combate with the Lyon one he saw that at the first encounter felled the Lyon with his Fist but was soone torne in pieces before the King Hee saw also Allegators or Crocodiles kept in Ponds for like purpose one of which killed two stoned Horses at one time There are foure great Markets euery day where things are very cheape a Hen for two pence a Sheepe for two shillings a good Hog sold by the Bannians for two shillings and other things proportionable They craued the Kings Passe for England who granting it vnder his Hand and Seale the Secretary went with them to the Third Queene of which he is said to haue ten and a thousand Concubines and two hundred Eunuchs which was Keeper of the Great Seale Hence they passed fiue in number to Fetterbarre twelue Course and twelue more to Bianie which is the chiefe Place for Indico in all the Indies where are twelue Indico Mills Indico growes on small bushes like Goose-berry bushes and beares a seed like a Cabadge-seed and being cut downe lies on heapes for halfe a yeere to rot and then brought into a Vault to bee trodden with Oxen from the stalkes and so is grownd fine at the Mils and lastly boyled in Fornaces refined and sorted the best there worth eight pence a pound Thence they passed to Hendown fiue and twentie Course an ancient faire Citie to Mogol a small Market Towne fourteene to Halstot twelue to Chatsoe twelue to Ladanna twelue to Mosabad eight to Bandason twelue Thence to Paddar a Riuer that runnes into the Persian Gulfe and parts the Indostans and Hendownes Twentie Course beyond Roree Buckar and Suckar in the Riuer of Damiadee which runnes into the same Sea At Buckar lyes Allee Can Vice-Roy of the Bulloches a stubborne People this Towne stands like an Iland in the Riuer Sucker is a clothing Towne the first of the Bulloches and Roree the last of the Moltans which are Mahumetans Here they staid foure and twentie daies for a Califa or Carauan a great company of Merchants trauelling together because the Countrey was full of Theeues Seuenteene Course from Sucker is Gorra a Towne of the Bullochees which he saith worship the Sunne and are Man-eaters of Gyant-like proportion Notry ten Course the last Towne of the Bullochees the next Puttans Here for their entertainment Aprill the first 1610. they were beset with Theeues twelue Fiddlers first meeting them but their Musicke cost deere by bribes and composition the Mogols passe hindering further outrage Seuenteene Course they trauelled to Daddor foure and thirtie ouer the Mountaines to Vachesto from thence seuen and fiftie ouer the Mountaines to Candahar a great Citie of the Puttans where Sauder Can resided as Vice-Roy where are continually seuen or eight thousand Camels occupied in Trade to and fro The Gouernour hath fortie thousand Horses in redinesse for Warre Richard Still and Iohn Crowther were lately sent from Azmere Asimere or Agimere where the Mogoll now resides to Spahan in Persia to obtaine Trade for the English by Sir Robert Sherlies meanes which was effected They passed by the way of Lahore and therefore I would desire You to beare Them company for better knowledge of the Countrey Their way was first towards Agra and Fetipore which is a faire Citie and hath in it a goodly House of the Kings built by Echebar with many spacious Gardens now it goes to ruine much of the stone carried to Agra much ground sowne within the Wals April the ninth 1614. they came to Dillee a very great and ancient Citie where many Kings lye buried and as some say the Rites of Coronation are still solemnized many Nobles and Captaines haue their Houses of Pleasure and their Sepulchres the vulgar sort beggarly most Banians On the seuenteenth they came to Sinan an ancient Citie On the one and twentieth to the old Citie Sultan poare Sixe Courses from it they passed a Riuer as broad as the Thames called Viau which runnes West into Sinda

because the Turkish Empire was so full of seditions and the Sophi had sent his Embassadour to them to chuse a fit warrior that they might with ioynt forces assault the Ottoman §. IIII. Of their Schooles and Cities THere are in all the Cities of Aethiopia two Schooles or Colledges for the instruction of youth one for the male sexe the other for the female each diuided into three parts the first for the Gentlemens children the second for Citizens the third for the baser vulgar with their seuerall instructers and without communion medling or conuersing of the one with the other the Seminarie or Colledge of Boyes is a quarter of a league without the City the other within There are they taught Letters and Religion All euen the Kings themselues are bound to send their children thither to be instructed and the Priests resort thither for Confession and ministring the Sacrament to them They may resort home at Festiuall times otherwise they are there detained The Virgins from ten to twenty the other from ten to sixteene yeeres of their age They haue not only this order in their wel ordered Schooles but in their disordered misorderly Stews the deuils work-houses and suburbs of Hell which yet in Rome and places of that Religion are permitted and admitted the Cities and his Holinesse selfe is not a little enriched with that which God prohibited The price of the Dogge and of the Whore The Ethiopians permit not any to bee strange women but strangers of other Countreys which may not enter into their Cities nor may the Nobles enter into the common houses which belong to the Citizens or these to those of the Plebians nor any but to those peculiarly designed their state vnder paine of death as adulterers to bee cast to Lyons These women are hired by certaine Officers at a common price and are not to take any thing of particular men they goe in pale-coloured garments and if they distaste and forsake that beastly trade they send them to some places subiect vnto the Portugals not admitting them to conuerse with their women for feare of infection But to leaue these Beasts the Ethiopians giue great respect to their Physicians which are onely of their Gentry and that not all that will but onely such as certaine Officers shall chuse of euery Citie to be sent to their generall Vniuersities of which there are seuen in Ethiopia there to be taught naturall Philosophy Logicke and other Arts they know not together with Physicke and the Arts of the Apothecarie and Chirurgian They are there maintained at the publike charge of the Cities that send them When the Doctors and Instructers see them fit for Graduates they go with them to the Monks of Alleluya and of Plurimanos who with a Monkes Cowle or Hood and other Doctoricall Ensignes doe inuest and inaugurate them in that Degree They are great Herbarists They make Mummia otherwise then in other parts where it is either made of bodies buried in the Sands or taken out of ancient Sepulchres where they had been laid being inbalmed with Spices For they take a captiue Moore of the best complexion and after long dieting and medicining of him cut off his head in his sleepe and gashing his body full of wounds and therein all the best Spices and then wrap him vp in Hay being before couered with a Seare-cloth after which they burie him in a moist place couering the body with earth Fiue dayes being passed they take him vp againe and remouing the Seare-cloth and Hay hang him vp in the Sunne whereby the body resolueth and droppeth a substance like pure Balme which liquor is of great price The fragrant sent is such while it hangeth in the Sunne that it may be smelt he saith a league off The priuiledges of Physicians are that they are freed from the common custome of giuing one in three of their sonnes for the Emperors warres that they may ride on Elephants in the Cities which is allowed onely to the Emperors Prelates and Priests that are Virgins They may also weare Miniuer-hoods and are free from Subsidies and Paiments Theologie and the Chaldee tongue is taught onely among their Priests and Ecclesiasticall persons in their Churches and Monasteries They reade Diuinitie in their natiue tongue the Text is the foure first generall Councels the Scripture they reade in Chaldee which is with them as Latine with vs They handle not questions as the Schoolemen in Logicall disputations and Arguings but copiously and eloquently interpret the Scriptures Because we haue mentioned their Cities Saba and Zambra let vs take some briefe view of them and so leaue this Spaniard whose Discourse hath I hope not without some delight thus long holden you Besides these two Cities none haue aboue three thousand houses in them But these are populous and magnificent with Towers Temples triumphant Arches Obeliskes Piramides and the like tokens of industry Antiquitie and Maiestie Saba was founded by that Queene which visited Salomon and was the mother-mother-Citie of the Empire It hath fiue thousand houses great and sumptuous the streets spacious with Portals or Pent-houses that men may walke safe from the Sunnes violence It hath foure chiefe Gates all of Alabaster and Iasper wrought with Antique-workes the Gate-doores of Cedar curiously carued The wayes that leade to these Gates for the space of two leagues are set with Palmes Planes Oranges Cedars Cypresses and other trees on both sides for shade fruit the foure high streets goe thorow the Citie acrosse and where they meet is an Arch or Vault erected on high Pillars fairely wrought and gilded with the brazen Image of S. Matthew their supposed Patron as bigge as a Giant gilded also the worke of Architects sent by Francis Duke of Florence Neere to this Citie are Mines of Gold Gardens and other places of pleasure and profit Zambra is greater containing thirty thousand houses and innumerable concourse of people It stands in the Kingdome of Cafates and nigh that great Lake which hereof is called Zambra where the Emperor leauing his wonted maner of remouing vp downe in Tents haue fixed his Court-royall and yet without the Citie are many Tents that belong to the Court Here the Prete liueth with two and forty sons of Kings with his great Councell and the Latine Alexander the third built the Palace here 1570. by the Duke of Florence his workmen If I should follow the Frier further I could leade you on in a delectable way but doubtfull like the Poets writings and bring you into Elisian but fabulous fields fertile in al things but truth wherein let the Reader pardon that I haue already been so long rather then tedious in this Vtopian Aethiopia at the first much suspected by me as by many passages in the Story is expressed but since largely written against by Godignus a Iesuit and by latter Relations found eyther vncertaine or false whose paines shall helpe make vp another Chapter and then will we proceed in our

consider the Countrey it selfe with such obseruations as we shall there find touching their Religions CHAP. IX Of the Countrey of Peru Naturall Oeconomicall and Politicall Obseruations §. I. Of the Scite Windes Hils Plaines Lakes Raines Seasons THe Kingdom of Peru extendeth seuen hundred leagues in length in breadth a hundred in some places in some threescore in others fortie more or lesse according vnto the difference of places Quito and Plata are the vtmost Cities thereof the one bordering on Popayan the other vpon Chili It is not heere meant of that spacious Kingdome of the Ingua's for that reached twelue hundred leagues whereof this of Peru was but a part Acosta numbreth diuers strange specialties excepted from the generall Rules of Natures wonted course The first that it blowes continually on all that Coast with one only winde and that also differing from that which vsually bloweth betweene the Tropikes namely the South and Southwest The second that this winde in other places vnhealthfull is here so agreeable that otherwise it could not be habitable The third that it neuer Raines Thunders Snowes nor Hailes in all this Coast And yet which is a fourth wonder a little distance from the Coast it Snowes and Raines terribly Fifthly there are two Ridges and Mountaynes which both runne in one altitude and the one in view of the other almost equally aboue a 1000. leagues yet on the one part are great Forrests and it Raines the greatest part of the yeere being very hot the other is all naked bare and very cold So that Peru is diuided into three parts which they call Llanos Sierras and Andes the first runne alongst the Sea Coast the Sierras be Hils with some Valleyes and the Andes bee steepe and craggie Mountaynes The Llanos or Plaines on the Sea Coast haue ten leagues in breadth in some parts lesse and in some a little more The Sierra contayneth with equall inequalitie twentie leagues and the Andes as much sometimes more and sometimes lesse They run in length from North to South and in breadth from East to West and in this so small a distance it raines almost continually in one place and neuer in the other In the Plaines neuer on the Andes in a maner continually though somtimes it be more cleere there then other The Sierra in the midst are more moderate in which it Raines from September to April as in Spain but in the other halfe yeere when the Sunne is further off it is more cleere The Sierras yeeld infinite number of Vicagues which are like wild Goats and Pacos a kinde of sheepe-asses profitable for fleece and burthen the Andes yeeld Parrots Apes and Monkeyes Some report that monstrous births doe sometimes proceed as by Natures vnwilling hand from the copulation of these Barbarians and these Monkeyes The Sierre opening themselues cause Valleyes where are the best dwellings in Peru and most plentifull of Maiz and Fruits It is strange that in the Valley of Pachacama neyther the higher Element yeeldeth Raine nor the lower any streame and yet there is plenty of Roots Maiz and Fruits They haue large and deepe Ditches in which they sow or set and that which groweth is nourished with the deaw and because the Maiz will not grow except it first die they set one or two Pilchards heads which fish they take with their nets very plentifully in the Sea therewith and thus it groweth abundantly The water which they drinke they draw out of deep pits Comming from the Mountaines to the Vallyes they do vsually see as it were two Heauens one cleere and bright the other obscure and as it were a gray veile spread vnderneath which couers all the Coast and although it raines not yet this mist is wonderfull profitable to bring forth grasse and to rayse vp and nourish the Seed and where they haue plenty of water which they draw from the Pooles and Lakes yet if this moysture faileth there followeth great defect of grain And which is more worthy of admiration the dry and barren sands in some places as in the sandy Mountaine neere the City de los Reyes are by this dew beautified with grasse flowres In some places they water their fields out of the riuers Beyond the Citie of Cusco the two ridges of Mountaynes separate themselues and in the middest leaue a plaine and large Champaine which they call the Prouince of Callas where there are many Riuers and great store of fertile pastures There is also the great Lake of Titicaca which contayneth fourescore leagues in compasse and robbeth ten or twelue great Riuers of their waters which they were carrying to the Sea but here are drunke vp by the way of this Lake They sayle in it with Shippes and Barques The water is not altogether sowre nor salt as that of the Sea but is so thicke that it cannot be drunke Vpon the Bankes of this Lake are habitations as good as any in Peru The great Lake passeth by a Riuer into a lesse Lake called Aulagas from whence it hath no manner of passage except there be any vnder the Earth There are many other Lakes in the Mountaines which seeme to arise rather from Springs then from Raines or Snowes and some of them yeeld Riuers At the end of the Valley of Tarapaya neere to Potozi there is a round Lake whose water is very hot and yet the Countrey is very cold they bathe themselues neere the bankes for further in it is intolerable In the middest is a boyling aboue twentie foote square it neuer encreaseth nor decreaseth although they haue drawne from it a great streame for Metall Mils But to returne from this plenty of water in Lakes to that want thereof in the Plaines of Peru The naturall reason which some yeeld of this want of Raine is partly their sandie and dry qualitie which of themselues can yeeld no further exhalations then to produce those mists or deawes partly the height of the Hils which shadow the Plaines and suffer no wind to blow from the Land vpon them but intercept them wholly with their vapours and Cloudes so that their winde is onely from the Sea which finding no opposite doth not presse nor straine forth the vapours which rise to engender Raine This seemeth the rather to be probable for that it raines vpon some small Hils along the Coast which are least shadowed In the same Coast also where the Easterly or Northerly winds be ordinary it raineth as in Guayaquill The South winde in other places is accounted a causer of Raine which here reigneth without rayning As strange is the difference of seasons after the Indians account For in the Sierras their Summer beginneth in Aprill and endeth with September October beginneth their Winter which not the absence but the presence of the Sunne doth cause Contrariwise in the Plaines iust by in site they haue their Summer from October to Aprill the rest their Winter The