WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 479 



1346. Next the Spanish village is another of Indians, [very fine] ; 

 this is called La Magdalena, and gives its name to the port. It has 

 a curate who imparts religious instruction. It is a [very] wealthy 

 and attractive place. This port has a hospital of the Brethren of 

 San Juan de Dios for the care of the sick. When I was there a fund 

 was heing raised for the establishment of a convent for nuns. 



1347. This valley was originally given to the town of lea and its 

 residents for their service, and for them to plant wheat in it and 

 whatever else they needed ; later, by permission of the town, some 

 vineyards were planted along the river banks. At the present day 

 it is far superior in fertility and wealth to the town of lea and its 

 establishments, although it does not enjoy the title of town or city, 

 being under the jurisdiction of lea. The S. wind blows at this port 

 and in its neighborhood, as everywhere in the Kingdom ; and since 

 there is a very tall mountain range 3 leagues from the port, which 

 forms a point out to sea, and the range is called Paraca, they call 

 the wind paraca also [since it comes from that quarter]. 



Chapter XXXVIII [39] (41) 



Describing the Extent of the Pisco Valleys. 



1348. The river flowing through this splendid Pisco Valley takes 

 its rise at the Castrovirreina mines, for it originates on those punas ; 

 and after it has enriched that city with its crystal-clear and silvery 

 waters, grinding its rich silver ore, in its mills, [over 20 in number] , 

 it runs down to the W. to enrich its fertile valleys with its waters. 



Of the vineyard [valleys or] districts belonging to this village of 

 Pisco, the nearest to the place is that [valley] of Cazalla, where they 

 produce more than 12,000 jugs of the best and most highly prized 

 wine [in the whole valley]. On the other side of the river toward the 

 sea is another district, small but also with A'ineyards and a sugar 

 plantation ; they raise melons, watermelons, cucumbers, and much 

 wheat, corn, and other cereals, which make the place rich and 

 comfortable. 



1349. The fertile Condor Valley starts 2 leagues from Pisco, to 

 the ENE. on the other side of the river. Here there are very large 

 vineyard districts ; over 100,000 jugs of excellent wine are produced 

 here alone. Among the winegrowers or vineyard owners, some raise 

 more than 3,000 (Marg. : 30,000) jugs a year, and so many are 

 very substantial, and on every farm they have a Negro village for 

 the exploitation of the vineyards. [And it is to be noted] that every 

 Negro costs at least 500 pesos, and 600 [50 more or 50 less, according] 



