158 EIVERS OF PERU. 



LIB. m. sea ^ though there be some others, who in their descriptions 

 give it but twenty-five or thirty leagues bredth at the 

 mouth. Next to this river that of Plata, or of Silver, holdes 

 the second place, which is otherwise called Paraguay, which 

 runnes from the mountaines of Peru into the sea, in thirty- 

 five degrees of altitude to the South ; it riseth (as they say) 

 like to the river of Nile, but much more without comparison, 

 and makes the fields it overflowes like vnto a sea for the 

 space of three moneths, and after returneth againe to his 

 course, in the which ships do saile many leagues against 

 the streame. There are many other rivers that are not of 

 that greatnes, and yet are equall, yea they surpasse the 

 greatest of Europe, as that of Magdalen a, neere to Santa 

 Martha the great river, and that of Alvarado in New Spaine, 

 and an infinit number of others. Of the south side, on the 

 mountains of Peru, the rivers are not vsually so great, for 

 that their current is not long, and that many waters cannot 

 ioyne together, but they are very swift, descending from 

 the mountaines., and have sodaine falles, by reason whereof 

 they are very dangerous, and many men have perished 

 there. They increase and overflowe most in the time of 

 heate. I have gone over twenty and seaven rivers vpon 

 that coast, yet did I never passe any one by a foord. 

 The Indians vse a thousand devises to passe their rivers. 

 In some places they have a long cord that runs fro one side 

 to th other, and thereon hangs a basket, into the which he 

 puts himselfe that meanes to passe ; and then they drawe it 

 from the bancke with another corde, so as hee passeth in 

 this basket. In other places the Indian passeth, as it were 

 on horse backe, vppon a bottle of straw, and behinde him 

 hee that desires to passe ; and so rowing with a peece of a 

 boorde, carries him over. In other places they make a 

 floate of gourds or pompions, vppon the which they set 

 men with their stuffe to carry over, and the Indians having 

 cordes fastned to them, goe swimming before, and drawe 



