RAINFALL IN PERU. 165 



small dew, which they call Garua, and in Spanish Mollina, L!B&amp;gt; in&amp;lt; 

 the which sometimes thickens and falles in certaine droppes 

 of water, yet is it not troublesome nor such as they neede 

 any covering. Their coverings are of mattes, with a little 

 earth vpon them, which is sufficient. Vpon the Andes it 

 raines in a manner continually, although it be sometimes 

 more cleere then other. In the Sierra, which lies betwixt 

 both the extreames, it raineth in the same season as it dooth 

 in Spaine, which is from September vnto Aprill, but in the 

 other season the time is more cleere, which is when the 

 Sunne is farthest off, and the contrarie when it is neerest, 

 whereof we have discoursed at large in the former booke. 

 That which they call Andes and Sierra are two ridges of 

 most high mountaines, which runne above a thousand 

 leagues, the one in view of the other, and almost equally. 

 There are an infinite number of vicunas, which breede in 

 the Sierras, and are properly like vnto wilde goates, very 

 nimble and swift. There are also of those beasts which 

 they call Guanacos and Pacos, which are sheepe, which we 

 may wel terme the asses of that countrey, whereof we shall 

 speake in their place. And vpon the Andes they finde apes, 

 very gentle and delightfull, and parrots in great numbers. 

 There also they find the hearb or tree which they call coca, 

 that is so greatly esteemed by the Indians, and the trafficke 

 they make of it is worthy much rnony. 



That which they call Sierra causeth vallies, whereas it 

 opens, which are the best dwellings of Peru, as is the valley of 

 Xauxa, of Andahuaylas, and Yucay. In these vallies there 

 growes wheat, mays, and other sortes of fruits, but lesse 

 in one then in the other. Beyond the Citie of Cuzco (the 

 ancient Court of the Lordes of those Kealmes), the two 

 ridges of mountaines seperate themselves one from the 

 other, and in the midst leave a plaine and large champian, 

 which they call the Province of Collao, where there are 

 many rivers and great store of fertile pastures ; there is 



