268 VINEYARDS. 



LIB. iv. over this sand, is the cause why it is not barren nor vn- 

 profitable, as the Philosopher teaches. The vines have so 

 increased there, as for this cause onely the tithes of the 

 Churches are multiplied five or sixe times double within 

 these twentie yeares. The most fertile vallies for vines be 

 Vitor neare to Arequipa, Yea in the territory of Lima, and 

 Caracato in the Countrey of Chuquiapu j 1 they carry this 

 wine to Potozi, Cusco, and divers partes, which yeeldes a 

 great revenue ; for, notwithstanding all the aboundance 

 they have, an arroba is there woorth five or sixe duckats, 

 and if it be Spanish wine (as they commonly carry in 

 their fleetes) it is woorth tenne or twelve. They make 

 wine like to that of Spaine, in the realrne of Chile, being 

 in the same climate ; but it corrupteth being carried to 

 Peru; they eate the grape where they cannot drink the 

 wine. And it is strange, that in the city of Cusco you 

 shall fiude ripe grapes all the yeare long ; the reason is (as 

 they say) for that those valleys bring foorth fruits in diverse 

 moneths of the yeare, either for that they cutte their vines 

 in diverse seasons, or that this varietie proceedes from the 

 quality of the soyle ; but whatsoever it be, it is most 

 certaine there are some valleys which carry fruit all the 

 yeare. If any one wonder at this, it may be he will 

 wonder much more at that which I shall say, and per- 

 chaunce not beleeve it. There are trees in Peru, whereof 

 the one part yeeldes fruit one sixe moneths of the yeare, 

 and the other halfe part yeeldes fruit the other sixe moneths. 

 In Mala, which is thirteene leagues from the Cittie of 

 Kings, 2 there is a figge tree, whereof the one halfe which is 

 towards the south is greene, and yeeldeth his fruite one 

 season of the yeare, that is when it is summer vpon the 

 Sierra, and the other moiety towards the Llanos or sea 

 coast is greene, and yeeldes his fruite in the other contrary 

 season, when it is summer vpon the Llanos, which groweth 

 1 La Paz, in Upper Peru (now Bolivia). 2 Lima. 



