black soever It is a strange thing that the iuice or water that commeth from this roote when they straine it which makes the Cacavi is a deadly poison and killes any that drinkes thereof but the substance that remaineth is a very wholesome bread and nourishment as we have saide There is another kinde of Yuca which they call sweet and hath not this poyson in the iuyce this is eaten in the roote boyled or roasted and is good meate Cacavi will keepe long and therefore they carry it to sea in steede of biscuit The place where they vse most of this bread is at the Ilands of Barlovente which are S. Dominicke Cuba Port Ricco Iamaique and some others thereabouts for that the soile of these Ilands will neither beare wheate nor Mays for whenas they sowe wheate it comes vp well and is presently greene but so vnequally as they cannot gather it for of the seede sowen at one instant some is spindled some is in the eare and some doth but bud one is great and an other little one is in the grasse and another in the graine and although they have carried labourers thither to see if there were any tillage or Art to be vsed yet could they finde no remedy for the quality of the earth They carry meale from New Spaine or the Canaries which is so moist that hardly can they make any profitable bread or of good taste The wafer cakes wherewith they say Masse did bend like to wet paper by reason of the extreame humiditie and heate which are ioyntly in that countrey There is an other extreame contrary to this which hinders the growing of mais or wheate in some parts of the Indies as on the height of the Sierre of Peru and the provinces which they call of Colao which is the greatest parte of this Realme where the climate is so colde and drie as it will not suffer any of these seedes to growe in steede thereof the Indians vse an other kinde of roote which they call Papas these rootes are like to grownd nuttes they are small rootes which cast out many leaves They gather this Papas and dry it well in the Sunne then beating it they make that which they call Chuno which keepes many daies and serves for bread In this realme there is great trafficke of Chuno the which they carry to the mines of Potozi they likewise eate of these Papas boyled or roasted there is one sweete of these kindes which growes in hot places whereof they do make certaine sawces and minced meates which they call Locro To conclude these rootes are the bread of that land so as when the yeare is good they reioyce much for that oftentimes they freeze in the earth so great is the cold of that Region they carry Mays from the valley or sea coast and the Spaniardes which are dainty carrie likewise from the same places wheate meale whereof they doe make good breade because that the land is drie In other partes of the Indies as at the Philippines they vse Rice insteade of bread whereof there growes very good and in great aboundance in all that countrey and in China and it is of good nourishment they seethe it in purcelaines and after mix it hote with the water amongest other meates In many places they do make their wine and drinke of this Rice steeping and then after boyling it as they do the beere in Flaunders or the Acua in Peru. Rice is a meate not much lesse common and generall throughout the world than wheate or mays and perchaunce more for besides that they vse it in China Ioppon and the Philippines and in the greatest parte of the East Indies it is a graine most common in Affrike and Ethiopia It requires a wet ground almost overflowne like to a medow In Europe Peru and Mexico where they have the vse of wheate they eate Rice as a meate and not for bread they seethe it with milke or with broth or in some other sorte The most exquisite Rice commeth from the Philippines and China as hath beene sayde And this may suffice to vnderstand what they eate generally at the Indies in steade of bread Of divers Rootes which growe at the Indies CHAP. 18. ALthough in these parts the Land be more aboundant and fertile in fruites that growes vpon the earth by reason of the great diversitie of fruite trees and plants we have yet for rootes and other things that grow vnder the earth the which they vse for meates in my opinion there is greatest aboundance there for of these kindes of plants we have readishes turneps parsneps carrots liekes garlike and some other profitable rootes But in those countries they have so many divers sortes as I cannot reckon them those which I now remember besides Papas which is the principall there is Ocas Yanococas Camotes Vatas Xiquimas Yuca Cochuâ—ha Cavi Totora Mani and an infinite number of other kindes as the Patattres which they eate as a delicate and toothsome meate They have likewise carried fruites to the Indies from these parts the which prosper better there then the Indian plants do brought into Europe the reason in my opinion is for that there is greater variety of temperatures then in these partes by meanes whereof the plants in those regions do rise and prosper better fitting themselves to the temperature they require And the rootes and plants which grow there and were not transported from hence are better then they be heere for onions garlike and parsnips are not in Spaine as they be at Peru and as for turnips there is so great abundance as they have increased in so me places in such sort that as they have affirmed to me they could not destroy the aboundance which grew vp for to sowe corne there Wee have seene redish rootes as bigge as a mans arme very tender and of a good taste and of these tootes I have spoken some serve for ordinatie meate as the Camores which being rosted serve as pulse There are other rootes that serve them for dainties as the Cochuchâ— it is a small sweete roote which some preserve for more delight There are other rootes fit to coole as the Piquima which is in qualitie very cold and moist and in summer it refresheth and quencheth the thirst but the Papas and Ocas be the chiefe for nourishment and substance The Indians esteeme garlike above all the rootes of Europe and hold it for a fruite of great force wherein they want no reason for that it comforts and warmes the stomacke for that they eate it with an appetite rawe as it comes out of the ground Of divers sortes of greene Hearbes and Pulses and of those they call Concombres Pines or Pine Apples small fruites of Chille and of Prunes CHAP. 19 SEâ—ing wee have begunne with the lesser Plants I might in few words touch that which concernes Flowers and Pot-hearbes and that which the Latines call Arbusta without any mention of trees There are some kindes
stalke for that it beares but one and never but once but as I have saide the stalke remaines and castes forth new sienes or stalkes vntill it growes olde and dies This Plane continues many yeares and requires much moisture and a very hote ground They put ashos at the foote of it for the better â—â—tertaining therâ—f and they make small groves and very thicke which are of great profit and revenue vnto them for that it is the fruite they vse most at the Indies and is generall in all places although they say the first beginning comes from Ethiopia And in trueth the Negros vse them much and in some places they serve them as bread yea they make wine of them They eate this fruite rawe like other fruits they likewise roast it and make many sorts of potages and conserves and in all thinges it serveth very well There is a kinde of small Planes white and very delicate which in Hispaniola they call Dominiques There are others which are stronger and bigger and red of colour There growes none in the kingdome of Peru but are brought from the Indies as from Mexico Cuernavaca and other vallies Vpon the firme land and in some Ilands there are great store of Planes like vnto thicke groves If this plant were fit for the fire it were the most profitable of all others but it is nothing fit for neither the body noâ— the boughs will burne and much lesse will it serve for building being a sappy wood and without force Yet Don Alonze Darzilla as it is said vsed the leaves of this tree dried to write a parte of the Auricana and in truth it may serve for want of paper seeing that the leafe is as broade as a sheet of paper or little lesse and foure times as long Of Cacao and Coca CHAP. 22. ALthough the Plane be the most profitable yet that Cacao is most esteemed at Mexico and the Coca in Peru in which two trees they have great superstition The Cacao is a fruit little lesse than almonds yet more satte the which being roasted hath no illâ—taste It is so much esteemed amongest the Indians yea and among the Spaniards that it is one of the richest and the greatest traffickes of new Spaine for being a drie fruite and that keepes long without corruption they carry whole shippes loaden from the province of Guatimalla The last yeare an English Pirat did burne in the Port of Guatulco in new Spaine above a hundred thousand charges of Cacao They vse it in steede of money for with five Cacaos they buy one thing with thirtie an other and with a hundred an other without any contradiction and they vse to give it to the poore that beg for almes The chiefe vse of this Cacao is in a drincke which they call Chochâ—laté whereof they make great accompt in that Country foolishly and without reason for it is loathsome to such as are not acquainted with it having askumme or froth that is very vnpleasant to taste if they be not very well conceited thereof Yet it is a drinke very much esteemed among the Indians wherewith they feast noble men as they passe through their Country The Spaniards both men and women that are accustomed to the Countrey are very greedy of this Chocholaté They say they make diverse sortes of it some hote some colde and some temperate and put therein much of that Chili yea they make paste thereof the which they say is good for the stomacke and against the Catarre Whatsoever it be such as have not been nourished there are not very curious thereof The tree whereon this fruite growes is of reasonable bignesse and well fashioned it is so tender that to keepe it from the burning of the Sunne they plant neere vnto it a great tree which serves onely to shadow it and they call it the mother of Cacao There are places where they are like to the Vines and Olive trees of Spaine The province where there is greatest abundance for the traffike of Marchandise is Guatimalla There growes none in Peru but Coca wherein they hold an other great superstition which seemes to be fabulous In trueth the trafficke of Coca in Potozi doth yearely mount to above halfe a million of peeces for that they vse fourescore and tenne or foure score and fifteene thousand baskets every yeare In the yeare one thousand five hundred eighty three they spent a hundred thousand A basket of Coca in Cusco is woorth two peeces and a halfe and three and in Potozi it is readily worth foure peeces and five Tomines and five peeces tried It is a kinde of marchandise by the which all their Markets and Faires are made with great expedition This Coca whereof they make such account is a small greene leafe which groweth vpon small trees about a fadome high and in hote and moyst grounds every foure moneths it casts forth this leafe which they call Tresmitas or Tremoy it requires great care in planting beeing very tender and much more to keepe it when it is gathered They laie it in order in long narrow baskets and so lade theyr sheepe of the Country which go in troopes with one two or three thousand baskets of this marchandise They bring it commonly from the Andes and vallies where there is an extreame heate and where it raines continually the most part of the yeare wherein the Indians endure much labour and paine to entertaine it often many die for that they go from the Sierre and colde places to till and gather them in the Andes And therefore there hath beene great question and diversity of opinions among learned men whether it were more expedient to pull vp these trees or to let them growe but in the end they remained The Indians esteeme it much and in the time of their Kings Inguas it was not lawfull for any of the common people to vse this Coca without licence from the Governor Their vse is to cary it in their mouthes chawing it and sucking out the iuyce but they swallow it not They say it gives them great courage and is very pleasing vnto them Many grave men holde this as a superstition a meere imagination for my part and to speake the truth I perswade not my selfe that it is an imagination but contrariwise I thinke it works and gives force and courage to the Indians for we see the effects which cannot be attributed to imagination as to go some daies without meate but onely a handfull of Coca and other like effects The sawce wherewith they doe eate this Coca is proper enough whereof I have tasted and it is like the taste of leather The Indians mingle it with the ashes of bones burnt and beat into powlder or with lime as others affirme which seemeth to them pleasing and of a good taste and they say it dooth them much good They willingly imploy their money therein and vse it as money yet all these things were not inconvenient were not the hazard of
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
not so healthfull and at this day we see it lesse pâ—opled although in former times it hath beene greatly inhabited with Indians as it appeareth by the histories of New Spaine and Peru and where they kept and lived for that the soile was naturall vnto them being bred there They lived of fishing at sea of seeds drawing brooks from the rivers which they used for want of raine for that it raines little there and in some places not at all This lowe countrie hath many places inhabitable as wel by reason of the sands which are dangerous for there are whole mountaines of these sandes as also for the marishes which grow by reason of the waters that fall from the mountaines which finding no issue in these flatte and lowe landes drowne them and make them vnprofitable And in trueth the greatest parte of all the Indian sea coast is of this sort chiefly vppon the South sea The habitation of which coasts is at this present so wasted contemned that of thirtie partes of the people that inhabited it there wants twenty nine and it is likely the rest of the Indians will in short time decay Many according to the varietie of their opinions attribute this to diverse causes some to the great labour which hath beene imposed vppon these Indians others vnto the change and varietie of meates and drinks they vse since their commerce with the Spaniards others to their great excesse drinking and to other vices they have for my part I hold this disorder to be the greatest cause of their decay whereof it is not now time to discourse any more In this lowe countrey which I say generally is vnhealthfull and vnfit for mans habitation there is exception in some places which are temperate and fertile as the greatest part of the Plaines of Peru where there are coole vallies and very fertile The greatest part of the habitation of the coast entertaines all the traffike of Spaine by sea whereon all the estate of the Indies dependeth Vpon this coast there are some Townes wel peopled as Lima and Truxillo in Peru Panama and Carthagena vppon the maine land and in the Ilands S. Dominique Port Ricco and Havana with many other Townes which are lesse than these as the true Crosse in new Spaine Yca Arigua and others in Peru the ports are commonly inhabited although but slenderly The second sort of land is contrary very high and by consequent colde and drie as all the mountaines are commonly This land is neither fertile nor pleasant but very healthfull which makes it to be peopled and inhabited There are pastures and great store of cattell the which for the most parte entertaines life and by their cattell they supply the want they have of corne and graine by trucking and exchange But that which makes these landes more inhabited and peopled is the riches of the mines that are found there for that all obeys to golde and silver By reason of the mines there are some dwellings of Spaniards and Indians which are increased and multiplied as Potozi and Gancavelicqua in Peru and Cacatecas in new Spaine There are also through all these mountaines great dwellings of the Indians which to this day are maintained yea some will say they increase but that the labour of the mines dooth consume many and some generall diseases have destroyed a great part as the Cocoliste in new Spaine yet they finde no great diminution In this extreamitie of of high ground they finde two commodities as I have saide of pastures and mines which doe well countervaile the two other that are in the lower grounds alongest the sea coast that is the commerce of the sea the aboundance of wine which groweth not but in the hot landes Betwixt these two extreames there is ground of a meane height the which although it bee in some partes higher or lower one than other yet doth it not approach neyther to the heate of the sea coast nor the intemperature of the mountaines In this sorte of soile there groweth many kindes of graine as wheate barley and mays which grows not at all in the high countries but well in the lower there is likewise store of pasture cattel fruits and greene forrests This part is the best habitation of the three for health and recreation and therefore it is best peopled of any parte of the Indies the which I have curiously observed in manie voyages that I have vndertaken and have alwayes found it true that the Province best peopled at the Indies be in this scituation Let vs looke neerely into new Spaine the which without doubt is the best Province the Sunne dooth circle by what parte soever you doe enter you mount vp and when you have mounted a good height you beginne to descend yet very little and that land is alwayes much higher then that along the sea coast All the land about Mexico is of this nature and scituation and that which is about the Vulcan which is the best soile of the Indies as also in Peru Arequipa Guamangua and Cusco although more in one then in the other But in the end all is high ground although they descend into deepe valleies and climbe vppe to high mountaines the like is spoken of Quitto Saint Foy and of the best of the new kingdome To conclude I doe beleeve that the wisedome and providence of the Creator would have it so that the greatest parte of this countrey of the Indies should be hillie that it might be of a better temperature for being lowe it had beene very hotte vnder the burning Zone especially being farre from the sea Also all the land I have seene at the Indies is neere to the mountaines on the one side or the other and sometimes of all partes So as I have oftentimes saide there that I woulde gladly see any place from whence the horizon did fashion it selfe and end by the heaven and a countrey stretched out and even as we see in Spaine in a thousand champaine fields yet doe I not remember that I have ever seene such sightes at the Indies were it in the Ilands or vpon the maine land although I have travelled above seaven hundred leagues in length But as I have saide the neerenesse of the mountaines is very commodious in this region to temper the heate of the Sunne To conclude the best inhabited partes of the Indies are as I have saide and generally all that countrie aboundes in grasse pastures and forrests contrary vnto that which Aristotle and the Auntients did holde So as when wee goe out of Europe to the Indies wee woonder to see the land so pleasant greene and fresh Yet this rule hath some exceptions chiefly in the land of Peru which is of a strange nature amongst all others whereof wee will now proceede to speake Of the properties of the land of Peru. CHAP. 20. WEe meane by Peru not that great parte of the worlde which they call America seeing that therein is contained Bresil
Indies as at Peru new Spaine in the new kingdome of Granado in Gautimalla in Chille and vpon the maine land I do not finde that in old time in the Ilands of Barlovente as Cuba S. Dominique Iamaique and S. Iâ—an that they vsed Mays at this day they vse much Yuca and Cacavi whereof we will presently intreate I do not thinke that this Mays is any thing inferiour to our wheat in strength nor substance but it is more hote and grosse and engenders more bloud wherevpon they that have not bin accustomed therevnto if they eat too much they swell and become scabbed It growes vpon canes or reedes every one beares one or two grapes or branches to the which the graine is fastened and although the graine be bigge yet finde they great store thereof so as in some clusters I have told seven hundred graines They must plant it with the hand one by one and not very thicke it desires a hote and moist ground and growes in great aboundance in many places of the Indies It is not strange in those countries to gather 300. Fanegues or measures for one sowen There is difference of Mays as there is of wheat one is great and very nourishing another small and drie which they call Moroche the greene leaves and canes of Mays is a good foode for their mules and horâ—es and it serves them for straw when it is dried the graine is of more nourishment for horses then barly and therefore in those countries they vse to water their horses before they eate for if they should drinke after they would swell as when they eate wheat Mays is the Indians bread the which they commonly eate boiled in the graine hote and they call it Mote as the Chinois and Iopponois eate their Rice sodden with the hote water sometimes they eate it baked There is some Mays round and bigge as that of Lucanas which the Spaniards eate rosted as a delicate meat and hath a better taste then Buarbenses or rosted peason There is another kinde of eating it more pleasant which is to grinde the Mays and to make small cakes of the flower â—he which they put in the fire and then bring them hote to the table In some places they call them Arepaâ— They make also round bowles of this paste and so trimme them that they continue long eating it as a dainty dish They have invented at the Indies for friandise and pleasure a certaine kinde of paste they doe make of this flowe mixt with sugar which they call biscuits and mellinders This Mays serves the Indians not only for bread but also for wine for they do make their drinke thereof wherewith they are sooner drunke than with wine of grapes They make this wine of Mays in diverse sortes and maners calling it in Peru Acua and by the most common name of the Indies Chicha And the strongest is made like vnto beere steeping the graine vntill it breake After they boyle it in such sort that it growes so strong as alittle overthrowes a man In Peru they call this Sora it is defended by the Law for the great inconveniences that grow thereby making men drunke But this Lawe is ill observed for that they vse it still yea they spend whole dayes and nights in drinking carowse Pliny reporteth that this maner of beverage of graine stieped and after sodden wherewith they were drunke was in old time vsed in Spaine France and other Provinces as at this day in Flanders they vse ale made of mault There is another maner of making this Acua or Chicha which is to champe the mays and make a leven thereof and then boile it yea the Indians holde opinion that to make good leven it must bee champed by old withered women which makes a man sicke to heare and yet they doe drinke it The cleanliest manner the most wholesome and that which least harmeth is to roast the Mays which the most civil Indians doe vse and some Spaniardes yea for physicke For in effect they finde it a very wholesome drinke for the reines so as you shall hardly finde any one at the Indies complaine of paine in the backe for that they do drinke of this Chicha The Spanyards and Indians eate this Mays boyled and roasted for daintinesse when it is tender in the grape like milke they putte it into the pot and make sawces that are good to eate The buds of Mays are very fatte and serve insteede of butter and oyle so as this Mays at the Indies serves both for men and beasts for bread wine and oile For this reason the Viceroy Don Francisco de Toledo saide that Peru hadde two things rich and of great norishment which were Mays and the cattell of the countrey In truth he had reason for these two things did serve them as a thousand I will aske sooner than I can answer it whence Mays was first carried to the Indies and why they do call this profitable graine in Italie Turkie graine for in trueth I doe not finde that the Antients make any mention of this graine though that mil that Plinie writes to come from the Indies into Italie tenne yeares before he didde write it hath some resemblance vnto Mays for that it is a graine as he saies that growes in reede and covers it selfe with the leafe and hath the toppe like haires being very fertile all which things agree not with mill To conclude God hath imparted to ev'ry region what is needefull To this continent he hath given wheate which is the chiefe nourishment of man and to the Indians he hath given Mays which hath the second place to wheate for the nourishment of men and beasts Of Yucas Caçavi Papas Chunes and Ris. CHAP. 17. IN some partes of the Indies they vse a kinde of bread they call Cacavi which is made of a certaine roote they call Yuca This Yuca is a great and grosse roote which they cutte in small morsells they grate or scrape it and then put it in a presse to straine making a thinne and broade cake thereof almost ' like vnto a Moores target or buckler then doe they drie it and this is the breade they eate It hath no taste but is healthfull and of good nourishment For this reason we said being at S. Dominike that it was the proper foode for great eaters for that they might eate much without any feare of surffetting They must of necessitie water this Cacavi before they eate it it is sharpe and easely watered with water or broath wherein it is very good for that it swells much and so they make Capirotades but it is hardly stieped in milke in honny of canes or in wine for that these liquors cannot pierce it as it doth bread made of wheate Of this Cacavi there is one kind more delicate than any other which is that they make of the slower called Xauxau which they do much esteeme in those partes For my parte I esteeme more a morsell of bread how hard
of these shrubbes at the Indies which are of very good taste The first Spaniards named many things at the Indies with such Spanish names as they did most resemble as Pines Concombres and Prunes althogh they be very different fruites to those which are so called in Spaine The Pines or Pine-aples are of the same fashion and forme outwardly to those of Castlle but within they wholy differ for that they have neither aples norscales but are all one flesh which may be eaten when the skinne is off it is fruite that hath an excellent smell and is very pleasant and delightfull in taste it is full of iuyce and of a sweete and sharpe taste they â—ate it being cut in morcells and steeped a while in water and salt Some say that this breedes choler and that the vse therâ—of is not very healthfull But I have not seenâ— any experience thereof that might breede beleefe They grow one by one like a cane or stalke which riseth amongst many leaves like to the lillie but somewhat bigger The apple is on the toppe of every cane it growes in hote and moist groundes and the best are those of the Ilands of Barlovente It growes not in Peru but they carry them from the Andes the which are neither good nor ripe One presented one of these Pine-apples to the Emperour Charles the fift which must have cost much paine and care to bring it so farre with the plant from the Indies yet would he not trie the taste I have seene in new Spaine conserves of these Pines which was very good Those which they call Concombres are no trees but shrubbes continuing but one yeere They gave it this name for that some of this fruite and the most part is in length and roundnes like to the Concombres of Spaine but for the rest they differ much for they are not greene but violet yellow or white neither are they thornie or rough but pollished and even having a very different taste and farre better then that of Spaine for they have a sharpe sweete taste very pleaasant when it is ripe yet is it not so sharpe as the Pine They are very coole full of liquor and of easie digestion and in time of heate fit to refresh They take away the rinde which is white and all that remaines is meat They grow in a temperate soile and require watering And although for the resemblance they call them Concombres yet are there many of them round and others of a different fashion so as they have not the figure of Concombres I do not remember to have seene this kinde of fruite in new Spaine nor at the Ilands but vpon the Lanos of Peru. That which they call the little fruite of Chille is of the same sort very pleasant to eate comes neere the taste of cheries but in all other things it differs much for that it is no tree but an hearbe which growes little and spreades vpon the earth casting forth this little fruite the which in colour and graines resembles almost the mulbery when it is white and not ripe yet is it more rough and bigger then the mulbery They say this little fruite is naturally found in the fieldes of Chille where I have seene of them They set it vpon plants and branches and it growes like any other shrubbe Those which they call Prunes are verily the fruites of trees and have more resemblance then the rest to our plumbs There are divers sorts whereof they call some Prunes of Nicaragua the which are very red and small and have little meat vpon the stone but that little is of an exquisite taste and of a sharpenes as good or rather better then cheries They hold this fruite to be very holesome and therefore they give it to sicke folkes especially to provoke an appetite There are others that be great and of a darke colour they have much meat but it is grosse and of no taste like to the Chavacanas which have every one two or three small stones But to returne to pot-hearbs I finde not that the Indians had any gardins of divers hearbs and plants but did onely till the land in some partes for pulses which they vse as those which they call Frâ—solles and Palares which serve them as our lentils beanes or tares neither have I knowne that these pulses or any other kinds that be in Europe were there before the Spaniards entred who carried plants and pulses from Spaine thither where they now grow and increase wonderfully and in some places exceede greatly the fertilitie of these partes As if we speake of mellons which grow in the vallie of Yuca in Peru whose roote becomes a stalke that continues many yeeres carrying mellons yeerely and they trimme it like vnto a tree a thing which I do not know to be in any part of Spaine But that is more monstrous of the Calibasses or Indian Pompions and the greatnes they have as they grow especially those which are proper to the Countrie which they call Capallos the which they eate most commonly in Lent boiled and trimmed with some other sawce There are a thousand kindes of Calibasses some are so deformed in their bignes that of the rinde cut in the middest and clensed they make as it were baskets to put in all their meat for their dinner Of the lesser they make vessells to eate and drinke in and do trimme them hansomely for many vses I have spoken this of small plants wee will now speake of greater but first of their Axi which is of the lesser Of Axi or Indian Pepper CHAP. 20. THey have not found at the West Indies any kinde of Spices proper or peculiar to them as pepper cloves cinamon nuâ—megges or ginger although one of our company who had travelled much and in diverse partes tolde vs that in the desarts of the Iland of Iamaique he had found trees where pepper grewe But they are not yet assured thereof neither is there anie trade of these spices at the Indies The ginger was carried from the Indies to Hispaniola and it hath multiplied so as at this day they know not what to do with the great aboundaunce they have In the fleete the yeare 1587. they brought 22053. quintalls of ginger to Seville but the naturall spice that God hath given to the weast Indies is that we call in Castill Indian pepper and in India Axi as a generall worde taken from the first land of the Ilands which they conquered In the language of Cusco it is called Vchu and in that of Mexico Chili This plant is well knowne and therefore I will speake alittle onely wee must vnderstand that in olde time it was much esteemd amongst the Indians which they carried into places where it grew not as a marchandise of consequence It growes not vpon cold grounds as on the Sierre of Peru but in hote valleis where it is often watered There is of this Axi of diverse colours some is greene some red some yellow and some
the trafficke thereof wherein so many men are occupied The Seigniors Inguas vsed Coca as a delicate and royall thing which they offered most in their sacrifices burning it in honor of their idolls Of Maguey Tunal Cochenille Anir and Cotton CHAP. 23. MAguey is a tree of wonders whereof the Notaries or Chapetons as the Indians call them are wont to write miracles in that it yeeldeth water wine oyle vineger honny sirrope threede needles and a thousand other things It is a tree which the Indians esteeme much in new Spaine have commonly in their dwellings some one of them for the maintenaunce of life it grows in the fields and hath great and large leaves at the end whereof is a strong sharp point which serves to fasten little pins or to sowe as a needle they draw out of this leafe as it were a kinde of threed which they vse They cut the body which is big when it is tender wherein is a great hollownesse by which the substance mounts from the root and is a liquor which they drink like water being sweet fresh This liquor being sodden turnes like wine which growes to vineger suffring it to sowre and boyling it more it becomes as hony boyling it halfe it serves as sirrope which is healthfull enough and of good taste in my iudgement it is better then the sirrope of raisins Thus doe they boyle this liquor and vse it in diverse sortes whereof they drawe a good quantitie for that in some season they draw daily some pots of this liquor There are also of these trees in Peru but they are not so profitable as in new Spaine The wood of this tree is hollow and soft and serves to keepe fire like to the match of a harquebuze and preserves it long I have seene the Indians vse it to that end The Tunall is another famous tree in new Spaine if we may call a tree a heape of leaves gathered together one vpon another it is the strangest fashiond tree of all other for first there grows one leafe out of the ground then another vpon it and so one vpon one till it commeth to his perfection but as the leaves growe vp and on the sides those vnderneath doe become great and loose in a manner the forme of leaves making a bodie and braunches which are sharpe pricking and deformed so as in some places they doe call it a Thistle There are thistles or wilde Tunalls the which do carry no fruite or else it is very pricking without any profit There are likewise planted Tunalls which yeelde fruite much esteemed amongst the Indians the which they call Tunas and they are much greater then Plumbes and long They open the shell which is fatte and within it is meate and small graines like to those of figges which be very sweete they have a good taste especially the white which have a pleasing smell but the red are not vsually so good There is another sorte of Tunalls which they esteeme much more although it yeeldes no fruit yet it beares an other commoditie and profit which is of the graine for that certayne small wormes breede in the leaves of this tree when it is well husbanded and are therevnto fastned covered with a certaine small fine web which doth compasse them in daintily and this is that Indian Cochenille so famous and wherewith they die in graine They let it drie and being dried carry it into Spaine which is a great and rich marchandise The arobe of this Cochenille or graine is worth many ducats In the fleete the yeare 1587. they did bring five thousand sixe hundred seventy seven arobes which amounted to twoo hundred foure score three thousand seven hundred and fifty peeces commonly there comes every yeare as great a wealth These Tunalls grow in temperate grounds inclining to colde In Peru there growes none to this day I have seene some plants in Spaine but they deserve not estimation I will speake something likewise of the Anir although it comes not from a tree but from an hearb for that it serveth for the dying of cloth and is a marchandise which agrees with the graine it groweth in great aboundance iu new Spaine from whence there came in the fleete I mentioned 5263. arobes or thereabouts which amounted to so many peeces Cotten likewise growes vpon small shrubs and great trees like to little apples which doe open and yeelde forth this webbe which being gathered they spinne to make stuffes It is one of the things at the Indies of greatest profite and most in vse for it serves them both insteed of flaxe and wooll to make their garments It groweth in a hote soyle and there is great store in the vallies and sea coast of Peru in new Spaine the Philippines and China But the greatest store of any place that I know is in the province of Tucuman in that of saint Croix of the Sierre and at Paraguey whereas Cotten is their chiefe revenue They carry cotten into Spaine from the Iland of Saint Dominike and the yeare that I spake of there came 64000. arobes At the Indies whereas this cotten growes they make cloth which both the men and women vse commonly making table napkins thereof yea and sailes for their shippes There is some course and other that is fine and delicate they die it into diverse colours as wee doe by our woollen cloth in Europe Of Mameys Guayavos and Paltos CHAP. 24. THese Plants we have spoken of are the most profitable of the Indies and the most necessary for the life of man yet there are many other that are good to eate among the which the Mameys are esteemed being in fashion like to great peaches and bigger they have one or two stones within them and their meate is some what hard There are some sweete and others somewhat sower and have the rinde hard They make conserves of the meate of this fruite which is like to marmelade The vse of this fruite is reasonable good but the conserves they make thereof are better They grow in Ilands I have not seene any in Peru. It is a great tree well fashioned and a reasonable faire leafe The Guayavos be other trees which commonly carry an ill fruite full of sower kernells and are like to little apples It is a tree little esteemed vpon the firme land and at the Ilands for they say it smells like to the Punaises The taste and savour of this fruite is very grosse and the substance vnholesome In S. Dominique and other Ilands there are whole mountaines full of these Guayavos and they say there was no such kinde of trees before the Spaniards came there but that they broght them they know not from whence This tree hath multiplied infinitely for that there is no beast that will eate the kernells or the graine so as being thus scattered on the earth being hote and moist it multiplies in this sort In Peru the Guayavos differs from others for that the fruite is not
water Even so we may say that the fowle which bee at this present vppon the maine land and in the Ilands at the Indies might passe the sea resting themselves in some small Ilands or vpon some land which they discovered by a naturall instinct as Plinie reporteth of some or peradventure falling into the water when they were weary of flying and after beganne their flight a new when they had alittle rested As for the fowles which we see in the Ilands where there are no beasts I beleeve certainly that they passed by one of the foresayde meanes But for other birdes which we finde vppon the maine land especially those whose flight is shorte it is more credible that they came thither as the beasts did which are of the same kindes that wee have in Europe For at the Indies there are great birds very heavy as Estridges whereof there are many in Peru which doe vse sometimes to terrifie the Indian sheepe as they do goe with their burthens But leaving these birds that govern themselves without the care of man but onely for hawking let vs now speake of tame fowle I wondered at hennes seeing there were som at the Indies before the Spaniards came there the which is well approoved for they have a proper name of the country and they call a henne Gualpa and the egge Pâ—nto and they vse the same proverb wee doe to call a coward a henne Those that were at the discovery of the Ilands of Soloman do report that they have seene hennes there like vnto ours wee may conceive that the henne being so tame a fowle and so profitable men might carry them with them when they passed from one place to another as we see at this day the Indians in their travel carry their henne with them or chicken vpon the burthen they have on their shoulders and likewise they carry them easily in their cages of reedes or wood Finally there be at the Indies many kindes of beasts and birdes such as we have in Europe as I have specified and other sortes which I leave to others to discourse of How it spould be possible that at the Indies there should be anie sortes of beasts whereof the like are no where else CHAP. 36. IV were a matter more difficult to shew and prove what beginning many sundry sorts of beasts had which are found at the Indies of whose kindes we have none in this continent For if the Creator hath made them there wee may not then alleadge nor flie to Noahs Arke neither was it then necessary to save all sorts of birds and beasts if others were to be created anew Moreover wee could not affirme that the creation of the world was made and finished in sixe dayes if there were yet other new kinds to make and specially perfit beasts and no lesse excellent than those that are knowen vnto vs If we say then that all these kindes of creatures were preserved in the Arke by Noah it followes that those beasts of whose kindes we finde not any but at the Indies have passed thither from this continent as we have saide of other beasts that are knowne vnto vs. This supposed I demand how it is possible that none of their kinde shoulde remaine heere and how they are found there being as it were travellers and strangers Truly it is a question that hath long held me in suspens I say for example if the sheep of Peru and those which they call Pacos and Guanacos are not found in any other regions of the worlde who hath carried them thither or how came they there seeing there is no shew nor remainder of them in all this worlde If they have not passed from some other region how were they formed and brought foorth there It may be GOD hath made a new creation of beasts That which I speake of these Pacos and Guanacos may be said of a thousand different kindes of birdes and beasts of the forrest which have never beene knowne neither in shape nor name and whereof there is no mention made neither among the Latins nor Greekes nor any other nations of the world We must then say that though all beasts came out of the Arke yet by a naturall instinct and the providence of heaven diverse kindes dispersed themselves into diverse regions where they found themselves so well as they woulde not parte or if they departed they did not preserve themselves but in processe of time perished wholy as we do see it chaunce in many things For if we shall looke precisely into it we shall finde that it is not proper and peculiar alone to the Indies but generall to many other Nations and Provinces of Asia Europe and Affrike where they say there are certaine kindes of creatures that are not found in other regions at the least if they be any where else they are knowne to be carried from thence Seeing then these creatures came out of the Arke as for example the elephant which we finde only in the East Indies and from thence have beene imparted to other regions wee may say as much of these creatures of Peru and of others of the Indies which are not found in any other part of the world Wee may likewise consider well vppon this subiect whether these beasts differ in kind and essentially from all others or if this difference be accidentall which might growe by diverse accidents as we see in the linages of men some are white others blacke some giants others dwaâ—fes and in apes some have no taile others have and in sheepe some are bare others have fleeces some great and strong with a long necke as those of Peru others weake and little having a short necke as those of Castille But to speake directly whoso would by this Discourse shewing only these accidentall differences preserve the propagation of beasts at the Indies and reduce them to those of Europ he shal vndertake a charge he will hardly discharge with his honor For if we shall iudge the kindes of beasts by their properties those of the Indies are so diverse as it is to call an egge a chesnut to seeke to reduce them to the knowne kinds of Europe Of Fowles that are proper to the Indies CHAP. 37. THere are many kindes of notable fowles at the Indies eyther of the same sort that ours be or of different They bring certaine birds from China that have no feete and all their bodies are almost feathers They sit not vpon the ground but hang vpon boughs by strings or feathers which they have and so rest themselves like flies or aierie things In Peru there are birdes which they â—â—ll Tómineios so small that often times I have doubted seeing them flie whether they were bees or butter-flies but in truth they are birdes Contrariwise those which they call Condores be of an exceeding greatnes and of such a force that not onely they will open a sheepe and eate it but also a whole calfe Those which they call Auras and
grow wonderfully fatte to have the grease which they vse for want of oyle in some places they make gâ—mons as in Tollâ—ca of new Spaine and in Paria at Peru. Returning then to such beasts as are pecullar there even as the Sainos are like vnto swine though somewhat lesse even so the Dante 's resemble small kine but more vnto mules having no hornes The hides of these beasts are much esteemed for jerkins and other coverings they are so hard as they resist any blow whatsoever And as the Dante 's be defended by the hardnes of their hides so those which they call Armadillos are by the multitude of their scales which open and shut as they please like to a curasse There be litle beasts which go thorow the woods called Armadillos by reason of the defence they have hiding themselves within their scales and opening when they list I have eaten of them and doe not holde it for a meate of any great woorth but the flesh of the Yguanas is a better meate but more horrible to the eye for they are like to the very Lizardes of Spaine although they be of a doubtfull kinde for that they go to the water comming to land they climbe the trees vpon the bankes and as they cast themselves from the trees into the water the boates watch vnderneath to receive them The Chinchilles is an other kind of small beasts like squirrels they have a woonderfull smoothe and soft skinne which they weare as a healthfull thing to comfort the stomacke and those partes that have neede of a moderate heate they make coverings and rugges of the haire of these Chinchilles which are found on the Sierre of Peru where there is likewise a small beast very common which they call Cuyes and which the Indians hold for a very good meate and they are accustomed often to offer these Cuyes in their sacrifices They are like small conies and have their borows iâ— the ground and in some places they have vndermined all the land some are grey some white and some speckled There are other small animalles which they call Viscachas and are like to hares although they be bigger they hunt them and eate the flesh Of common hares there are great store in some parts There are also connies in the realme of Quitto but the good are come from Spaine There is another strange beast the which for his great heavinesse and slownesse in mooving they call Perico-ligero or the little light dogge hee hath three nailes to every hand and mooves both hand and feete as it were by compasse and very heavily it is in face like to a monkie and hath a shrill crie it climeth trees and eates Ants. Of Micos or Indian Monkies CHAP. 39. THroughout all the mountaines eyther of these Ilands of the firme land or of the Andes there are infinite numbers of Micos or Monkies which are a kind of apes but very different in that they have a taile yea a very long one And amongest them there are some kinds which are thrise yea foure times bigger than the ordinary some are all blacke some bay some grey and some spotted Their agilitie and maner of doing is admirable for that they seeme to have reason discourse to go vpon trees wherein they seeme to imitate birds Going from Nombre de Dios to Panama I did see in Capira one of these monkies leape from one tree to an other which was on the other side of a river making me much to wonder They leape where they list winding their tailes about a braunch to shake it and when they will leape further than they can at once they vse a pretty devise tying themselves by the tailes one of another and by this meanes make as it were a chaine of many then doe they launch themselves foorth and the first holpen by the force of the rest takes holde where hee list and so hangs to a bough and helpes all the rest till they be gotten vp It were long to report the fooleries trickes traverses and pleasant sportes they make when they are taught which seeme not to come from bruit beasts but from a manlike vnderstanding I sawe one in Carthagenâ— in the Governours house so taught as the things he did seemed incredible they sent him to the Taverne for wine putting the pot in one hand and the money in the other and they could not possibly gette the money out of his hand before he had his pot full of wine If any children mette him in the streete and threw any stones at him he would set his pot downe on the one side and cast stones against the children till he had assured his way then would he returne to carry home his pot And which is more although hee were a good bibber of wine as I have oftentimes seene him drinke when his maister hath given it him yet would he never touch it vntill leave was given him They told me moreover that if hee sawe any women painted he would fall vppon them pull off their attire and would seeke to bite them This may be an addition which I have not seene but I doe not thinke there is any beast in the world approacheth so neare the conversation of a man as this monkey doth They report so many things which for feare I shoulde be thought to give credite to fables or they should be so esteemed I thinke best to omitte blessing the Author of all creatures in that hee would createa kinde of beast onely for the recreation and delight of man Some report that they carried these Micos or Monkies to Solomon from the Weast Indies but for my parte I holde it was from the East Indies Of Vicugnes and Tarugnes of Peru. CHAP. 40. AMongst the most remarkable things at the Indies of Peru be the Vicugnes and sheepe of the countrie as they call them which are tractable beasts and of great profite the Vicugnes are wilde and the sheepe are tame Some thinke that the Vicugnes are those which Aristotle Plinie and other Authors call Capreas which are wilde goates and in truth they have some resemblance for the lightnes they have in the woodes and mountaines but yet they are no goates for the Vicugnes have no hornes as those have whereof Aristotle makes mention neither are they the goates of the East Indies from whom they draw the Bezar stone for if they be of that kinde it were a diverse one as in the race of dogges the mastie is divers from the greyhound The Vicugnes of Peru are not those beasts which carrie the Bezar stone in the Province of new Spaine which there they cal BeZaars for that they are a kind of Stagges and Venison yet do I not know in any part of the world there be any of these beasts but in Peru and in Chille which are countries ioyning one to another These Vicugnes are greater then goates and lesse then calves Their haire is of the colour of dried roses somewhat cleerer they
he was with him hee tolde him that the pulses of his feete and hands failed him Moteçuma troubled with these news commanded all those sorcerers to be apprehended but they vanished presently in the prison wherewith hee grewe into such a rage that hee might not kill them as hee putte their wives and children to death destroying their houses and families Seeing himselfe importuned and troubled with these advertisements he sought to appease the anger of his gods and for that cause hee laboured to bring a huge stone thereon to make great sacrifices For the effecting whereof hee sent a great number of people with engins and instruments to bring it which they could by no meanes moove although being obstinate they had broken many instruments But as they strove still to raise it they heard a voyce ioyning to the stone which said they laboured in vaine and that they should not raise it for that the Lorde of things created would no more suffer those things to be doone there Moteçuma vnderstanding this ommaunded the sacrifice to be perfourmed in that â—lace and they say the voyce spake againe Have I not told you that it is not the pleasure of the Lord of things created that it should be done and that you may well know that it is so I will suffer myselfe to be transported alittle then after you shall not moove mee Which happened so indeede for presently they carried it a small distance with great facility then afterwards they could not moove it till that after many prayers it suffered itselfe to be transported to the entry of the citty of Mexico where sodainly it fel into the Lake where seeking for it they could not finde it but it was afterwards found in the same place from whence they had remooved it wherewith they remayned amazed and confounded At the same time there appeared in the element a great flame of fire very bright in the forme of a Pyramide which beganne to appeare at midnight and went still mounting vntill the Sunne rising in the morning where it stayed at the South and then vanished away It shewed itselfe in this sort the space of a whole yeare and ever as it appeared the people cast foorth great cries as they were accustomed beleeving it was a presage of great misfortune It happened also that firâ— tooke the Temple whenas no body was within it nor neare vnto it neither did there fall any lightning or thunder wherevpon the guardes crying out a number of people ran with water but nothing could helpe so as it was all consumed and they say the fire seemed to come forth of peeces of timber which kindled more by the water that was cast vpon it There was a Comet seene in the day time running from the west to the east casting an infinite number of sparkles and they say the forme was like to a long taile having three heads The great lake betwixt Mexico and Tescuco without any wind earthquake or any other apparant signe beganne sodainely to swell and the waves grewe in such sort as all the buildings neare vnto it fell downe to the ground They say at that time they heard many voices as of a woman in paine which sayde sometimes O my children the time of your destruction is come and otherwhiles it sayde O my children whither shall I carry you that you perish not vtterly There appeared likewise many monsters with two heads which being carried before the king sodainely vanished There were two that exceeded all other monsters being very strange the one was the fishers of the lake tooke a bird as bigge as a Crane and of the same colour but of a strange and vnseene form They caried it to Moteçuma who at that time was in the pallace of teares and mourning which was all hanged with blacke for as he had many palaces for his recreation so had he also others for times of affliction where with hee was then heavily charged and tormented by reason of the threatnings his gods had given him by these sorrowfull advertisements The fishers came about noone setting this bird before him which had on the toppe of his head a thing bright and transparent in forme of a looking glasse wherein he did behold a warrelike nation comming from the east armed fighting and killing He called his Divines and Astronomers whereof there was a great number who having seene these things and not able to yeelde any reason of what was demaunded of them the bird vanished away so as it was never more seene wherevpon Moteçuma remained very heavy and sorrowfull The other which happened was a laborer who had the report of a very honest man came vnto him telling him that being the day before at his worke a great Eagle flew towardes him and tooke him vppe in his talants without hurting him carying him into a certaine cave where it left him the Eagle pronouncing these words Most mightie Lorde I have brought him whome thou hast commaunded me This Indian laborer looked about on every side to whome hee spake but hee sawe no man Then he heard a voyce which sayde vnto him Doost thou not knowe this man whome thou seest lying vpon the ground and looking thereon he perceived â— man lie very heavy asleepe with royall ensignes floures in his hand and a staffe of perfumes burning as they are accustomed to vse in that countrey whome the labourer beholding knew it was the great king Moteçuma and answered presently Great Lord this resembles our King Moteçuma The voyce saide againe Thou saiest true behold what he is and how he lies asleepe carelesse of the great miseries and afflictions prepared for him It is nowe time that hee pay the great number of offences hee hath doone to God and that he receive the punishment of his tyrannies and great pride and yet thou seest how carelesse hee lies blinde in his owne miseries and without any feling But to the end thou maiest the better see him take the staffe of perfumes hee holdes burning in his hand and put it to his face thou shalt then find him without feeling The poore laborer durstnot approach neere him nor doe as he was commaunded for the great feare they all hadde of this king But the voyce saide Have no fâ—are for I am without comparison greater than this King I can destroy him and defend him doe therefore what I commaund thee Wherevpon the laborer took the staffe of perfumes out of the kings hand and put it burning to his nose but he mooved not nor shewed any feeling This done the voice said vnto him that seeing hee had found the king so sleepy he should go awake him and tell him what he had seene Then the Eagle by the same commandement tooke the man in his tallents and set him in the same place where he found him and for accomplishment of that which it had spoken hee came to advertise him They say that Moteçuma looking on his face found that he was burnt the which he had not