i8 o The ^aturalland Morall 



And in trueth the greatcft parte of all the Indian fea 

 coaft is of this ibrt, chiefly vppon the South fea : The 

 habitation of which coafts is at this prefent fo wafted & 

 contemned that of thirtie partes of the people that in 

 habited it, there wants twenty nine; and it is likely the 

 reft of the Indians will in (hort time decay. Many, ac 

 cording to the varictic of their opinions , attribute this 

 to diverfe caufes^ fome to the great labour which hath 

 beeneimpofcd vppon thefc Indians $ others, vnto the 

 change and varietie of meates and drinks they vfe,fincc 

 their commerce with the Spaniardes^ others to their 

 great exceffe& drinking, and to other vices they have: 

 for my part, I hold this difbrder to be the greatcft caufe 

 of their decay, whereof it is not now time to difcourfc 

 any more. In this lowe countrey (which I fay general 

 ly is vnhealthfull, and vnfit for mans habitation) there 

 is exception in fome places which are temperate and 

 fertile, as the greateft part of the Plaines of Peru^ where 

 there are coole vallics and very fertile.The greateft part 

 of the habitation of the coaft entcrtaines all the traffikc 

 ofSpaiffe by fea : whereon all the eftate of the Indies de- 

 pendeth. Vpon this coaft thercare fome Towncs wel 

 peopled,as Lima and Truxitlo in Pcru y Panama and Car- 

 thagena vppon the maine land, and in the Hands S. 

 Dominique, PortRiCco, and Havana^ with many other 

 Townes which are leflc than thefe, as the true Croflc 

 in newSpaiitCt fc^Arigtui and others in Peru: the ports 

 are commonly inhabited, although but flcnderly. The 

 fccond fort of land is contrary, very high, andbycon- 

 fequent, colde and drie,as all the mountaines are com 

 monly. This land is neither fertile nor plcafaat,but ve 

 ry healthfull, which makes it to be peopled and inhabi 

 ted, There are paftures, and great ftore of cattell, the 



which 



