102 A HEALTHY LIFE POSSIBLE IN THE TROPICS. 



LlB - &quot; although we have no other wealth, yet doth it yeelde con 

 tent. Considering with my selfe the pleasing temperature 

 of many Countries at the Indies, where they know not what 

 winter is,, which by his cold doth freese them, nor summer 

 which doth trouble them with heat, but that with a Matte 

 they preserve themselves from the iniuries of all weather, 

 and where they scarce have any neede to change their gar 

 ments throughout the yeere. I say, that often considering 

 of this, I find that if men at this day would vanquish their 

 passions, and free themselves from the snares of covetous- 

 nesse, leaving many fruitelesse and pernicious disseines, 

 without doubt they might live at the Indies very pleasant 

 and happily ; for that which other poets sing of the Elisean 

 fields and of the famous Tempe, or that which Plato reports 

 or faines of his Atlantis Hand, men should finde in these 

 lands, if with a generous spirit they would choose rather to 

 command their silver and their desires then to remaine 

 slaves as they are. That which wee have hitherto discoursed 

 shal suffice touching the qualities of the Equinoctiall, of 

 colde, heat, drought, raine, and the causes of temperature. 

 The particular discourse of windes, waters, landes, mettalls, 

 plants, and beasts (whereof there is great aboundance at the 

 Indies), shall remaine for the other bookes. The difficultie 

 of that which is handled in this, though briefly, will haply 

 make it seeine tedious. 



