160 COAST VALLEYS OF PEEU. 



LIB. in. p asse d through those Eegions ; whereof there is one very 

 lowe, another very high, and the third which holds the 

 middle of these two extreaines. The lower is that which 

 lieth by the sea coasts, whereof there is in all partes of the 

 Indies, and it is commonly very hote and moist, so as it is 

 not so healthfull ; and at this day we see it lesse peopled, 

 although in former times it hath beene greatly inhabited 

 with Indians, as it appeareth by the histories of New 

 Spaine and Peru, and where they kept and lived, for that 

 the soile was naturall vnto them being bred there. They 

 lived of fishing at sea, and of seeds, drawing brooks from 

 the rivers, which they vsed for want of raine, for that it 

 raines little there, and in some places not at all. This lowe 

 countrie hath many places inhabitable, as wel by reason of 

 the sands which are dangerous (for there are whole moun- 

 taines of these sandes) as also for the marishes which grow 

 by reason of the waters that fall from the mountaines, 

 which finding no issue in these flatte and lowe landes, 

 drowne them, and make them vnprofitable. 



And in trueth the greatest parte of all the Indian sea 

 coast is of this sort, chiefly vppon the South Sea. The 

 habitation of which coasts is at this present so wasted and 

 contemned, that of thirtie partes of the people that in 

 habited it, there wants twenty-nine ; and it is likely the 

 rest of the Indians will in short time decay. Many, ac 

 cording to the varietie of their opinions, attribute this to 

 diverse causes ; some to the great labour which hath beene 

 imposed vppon these Indians ; others vnto the change and 

 varietie of meates and drinks they vse, since their com 

 merce with the Spaniardes ; others to their great excesse 

 and drinking, and to other vices they have ; for my part, I 

 hold this disorder to be the greatest cause of their decay, 

 whereof it is not now time to discourse any more. In this 

 lowe countrey (which I say generally is vnhealfchfull, and 

 vnfit for mans habitation) there is exception in some places 



