Htiiorie of the Indies, lib.}* 



the fire, Ifeenofpeciall matter at the Indies which is 

 not in other regions 5 vnleffe fomewill fay, that the 

 manner to ftrike fire in rubbing two ftones one againft 

 another, as tomtlndiansvfe, or to boy le any thing in 

 gourdes, cafting a burning ftoneintoit,and other fuch 

 like things, areremarkeable, whereof I have written 

 what might be fpoken . But of thofe which are in the 

 yulctns and mouths of fire at the Indies, worthy doubt- 

 lefle tobeobferved,! will fpeakein their order,treating 

 of the diverfitie of grounds, whereas theyfinde thefe 

 fires or Vnkam. Therefore to beginne with the winds, 

 I fay, that with good reafon,&*/0#w in the great Judge 

 ment which God had given him , efteemes much the 

 knowledge of th windes; and their properties,being 

 very admirable; for that fome are moyft , others drie, 

 fomevnwholefome, others found, fomehote, others 

 colde,fome calme and pleafant, others rough and tern- 

 pefluous, (bme barren,and others fertile, with infinite 

 other differences . There are fome windes which blow 

 in certarne regions, and are, as it were, Lordes thereof, 

 not addmitting any entry or communication of their 

 contraries. In (bmepartes they blow in that forte , as 

 fbmetimes they are Conquerours, fonmerimes conque 

 red- often thereare divers and contrary winds, which 

 cherunne together at one inftant, dividing the way 

 betwixt them, fbmetimes one blowing above of one 

 fort, and another below of an othertCrte- (bmetimes 

 they incounter violently one with another : which puts 

 them at feain great danger : there are fome windes 

 which helpe to the generation of creatures, and others 

 that hinder and are oppofite. There is a certaine wine!, 

 of fuch a quality, as when it blowcs in fome country } it 

 caufeth it to raine fleas,and in fo great aboundaunce,as 



I 4 they 



