GUANO. 281 



delicate feathers of those birds, which in Peru they call LlB - IV - 

 Tominejos, or others like vnto them, which have the most 

 perfect colours in their feathers. The Indians (besides 

 these images) did vse feathers in many other most excellent 

 workes, especially for the ornament of Kings and Noblemen, 

 their Temples and Idolls. There are also other great 

 birdes which have excellent and fine feathers, whereof they 

 make plumes of sundry colours, especially when they go to 

 warre, inriching them with gold and silver very artificially, 

 which was a matter of great price. They have the same 

 birdes still, but they are not so curious, neither do they 

 make so many gentill devices as they were wont. There 

 are other birdes at the Indies, contrarie to these of so rich 

 feathers, the which (besides that they are ill favoured) serve 

 to no other vse but for dung, and yet perchance they are 

 of no lesse profite. I have considered this, wondering at 

 the providence of the Creator, who hath so appointed that 

 all creatures should serve man. In some Hands and head 

 lands, which are ioyning to the coast of Peru, wee see the 

 toppes of the mountaines all white, and to sight you would 

 take it for snow, or for some white land, but they are heapes 

 of dung of sea fowle which go continually thither : and there 

 is so great aboundance, as it riseth many elles, yea, many 

 launces in height, which seemes but a fable. They go with 

 boates to these Hands onely for the dung, for there is no 

 other profit in them. And this dung is so commodious and 

 profitable as it makes the earth yeelde great aboundance of 

 fruite. They cal this dung Guano, whereof the valley hath 

 taken the name, which they call Lunahuana 1 in the valleys 

 of Peru, where they vse this dung, and it is the most fertile 

 of all that countrie. The quinces, poungranets, and other 



1 Properly Runalmanac. Acosta s derivation is wrong. The word is 

 derived from Runa, u a man&quot;; and Huanani, &quot;to warn&quot;. &quot;The warning 

 of men.&quot; Sec O. &amp;lt;le la Vc&amp;lt;ja, ii, p. 181. Rimahuanac (corruptly Luna 

 huana) is on the coast of Peru, near Chincha. 



