THE WINDS. 105 



vnknowne to the most excellent Authors of that profession LlB - m - 

 which have bin among the Ancients. And if wee should 

 write these naturall things of the Indies so amply as they 

 require, being so strange, I doubt not but we might com 

 pile works no lesse than those of Plinie, Theophrastus, and 

 Aristotle. But I hold not my selfe sufficient, and although 

 I were, yet is not my intent but to note some naturall 

 things which I haue seene and knowne being at the Indies, 

 or have received from men worthy of credit, the which 

 seeme rare to me and scarce known in Europe. By reason 

 whereof I will passe over many of them briefly, ether bicause 

 they are writen of by others, or else require a longer dis 

 course then I can now give. 



CHAP. n. Of the windes, their differences, properties, and 

 causes in generall. 



Having discoursed in the two former Books of that which 

 concernes the heavens, and the habitation of the Indies in 

 generall, it behooves vs now to treate of the three elements : 

 aire, water, and land, and their compounds, which be met- 

 talls, plants, and beasts ; for, as for the fire, I see no speciall 

 matter at the Indies which is not in other regions ; vnlesse 

 some will say, that the manner to strike fire in rubbing two 

 stones one against another, as some Indians vse, or to boyle 

 any thing in gourdes, casting a burning stone into it, and 

 other such like things, are remarkable, whereof I have 

 written what might be spoken. But of those which are in 

 the Yulcans 1 and mouths of fire at the Indies, worthy doubt- 

 lesse to be observed, I will speake in their order, treat 

 ing of the diversitie of grounds, whereas they finde these 

 fires or Vulcans. Therefore, to beginne with the winds, I 

 say, that with good reason, Salomon, in the great iudgement 



1 Volcanos. 



