1 74 VOLCANO S. 



LIB. m. necess itie^ having made the compasse of the worlde, they 



must finde the want of a whole day in their computation. 



CHAP. xxiv. Of Hie Volcanos or Vents of fire. 



Although we finde vents of fire in other places, as mount 

 and Wesuvio, which now they call mount Soma, yet 

 is that notable which is found at the Indies. Ordinarily 

 these Volcanos be rockes or pikes of most high mountaines, 

 which raise themselves above the toppes of all other moun- 

 taines. Upon their toppes they have a plaine, and in the 

 midst thereof a pitte or great mouth, which discends even 

 vnto the foote thereof a thing verie terrible to beholde. 

 Out of these mouthes there issues smoke, and sometimes 

 fire; some cast little smoke, and have in a maner no force 

 of Volcanos, as that of Arequipa, which is of an vnmeasurable 

 height, and almost all sand. It cannot be mounted vp in 

 lesse then two daies, yet they have not found any shew of 

 fire, but onely the reliques of some sacrifices wlrch the 

 Indians made while they were Gentiles, and sometimes it 

 doth cause a little smoke. The Volcan of Mexico, which is 

 neere to the Puebla de los Angeles, is likewise of an admirable 

 height, whereas they mount thirty leagues in turning ; from 

 this Volcan issueth not continually, but sometimes, almost 

 every day a great exhalation or whirl wind e of smoake, which 

 ascends directly vp, like to the shot of a Crossebow, and 

 growes after like to a great plume of feathers, vntill it 

 ceaseth quite, and is presently converted into an obscure and 

 darke cloude. Most commonly it riseth in the morning 

 after the Sunne rising, and at night when it setteth, although 

 I have seene it breake out at other times. Sometimes it 

 dooth cast foorth great store of ashes after this smoke. 

 They have not yet seene any fire come from it, yet they feare 

 it will issue forth and burne al the land round about, which 



