62 ANIMALS ON THE ISLANDS. 



LIB. i. O f their sailes, being spread, and of the bodies of the ships, 

 they stood greatly amazed, not beeing able to perswade 

 themselves that they were shippes, having never seene any 

 of the like forme and greatnesse, they supposed they had 

 beene rockes. But, seeing them advance, and not to sincke, 

 they stood transported with amazement, vntill that, behold 

 ing them neerer, they discovered men with beards that 

 walked in them, whom then they held for some gods or 

 heavenly creatures. Whereby it appears how strange it 

 was to the Indians to have great Ships. There is yet 

 an other reason, which confirm es vs in the foresayd opinion, 

 which is, that these beastes (which we say are not likely to 

 have been transported by Sea to the Indies) remayne onely 

 on the maine Land, and not in any Hands foure dayes 

 iorney from the maine Land. I have made this search for 

 proofe thereof, for that it seems to me a point of great im 

 portance, to confirme me in mine opinion, that the confines 

 of the Indies, Europe, Asia, and Affricke have some com 

 munication one with another, or at the least, approch very 

 neere together. There are in America and Peru many 

 wilde beastes, as Lyons, although they be not like in great- 

 nesse, fiercenesse, nor of the same colour, redde, to the re 

 nowned Lyons of Affrica. There are also many Tygers, 

 very cruell, and more to the Indians then to the Spaniardes; 

 there are likewise Beares, but in no great aboundance ; of 

 Boares and Foxes an infinite number. And yet if wee 

 shall seeke for all these kindes of beastes in the Hands of 

 Cuba, Hispaniola, lamaica, Marguerita, or Dominica, you 

 shall not finde any. So as in the sayde Hands, although 

 they were very fertile, and of a great circuit, yet was there 

 not any kind of beastes for service when the Spaniards 

 arrived; but at this day there are so great troopes of 

 Horses, Oxen, Kyne, Dogs, and Hogges, which have multi 

 plied in such abundance, as now the Kine have no certaine 

 master, but belong to him that shal first kil them, be it on 



