TO THE EEADER. XXV 



beene carefull to learn e from men of greatest experience 

 and best seene in these matters,, and to gather from their 

 discourses and relations what I have thought fit to give 

 knowledge of the deedes and custonie of these people. And 

 for that which concern es the nature of those Countries and 

 their properties, I have learned it by the experience of many 

 friends, and by my dilligence to search, discover, and con- 

 ferre with men of iudgement and knowledge. In my 

 opinion, there are many advertisements which may serve 

 and benefit better wits for the seaching out of the truth, 

 or, to proceede farther, in finding that pleasing which is 

 conteined herein. So, as although this new World be not 

 new, but old, in respect of the much which hath beene writ 

 ten thereof; yet this historic may, in some sort, be held for 

 new, for it is partly historicall and partly philosophicall, as 

 well for that they are the workes of nature as of free will, 

 which are the deedes and customes of men, the which hath 

 caused mee to name it the Naturall and Morall Historie of the 

 Indies. Containing these two things : In the first two 

 bookes mention is made of that which concernes the heavens, 

 temperature and habitation of the world, which books I had 

 first written in Latine, and now I have translated them into 

 Spanish, vsing more the liberty of an author then the strict 

 bonds of a translator, to apply my self the better to those 

 for whom it is written in the vulgar tong. In the two fol 

 lowing books is treated of that which concernes the Ele 

 ments and naturall mixtures, as Mettalls, Plants, Beasts, 

 and what else is remarkable at the Indies. The rest of 

 the bookes relate what I could certainely discover, and 

 what I thought worthie memory of the Indians them 

 selves, their Ceremonies, Customs, Governments, Wars, 

 and Adventures. In the same Historie shall be spoken (as 

 I could learne and comprehend) of the figures of the antient 

 Indians, seeing they had no writing nor characters as we 

 have, which is no small industry to have preserved their 



