Hfilorieofthe Indies, lib, 



which, for the moft partc, cntertaincs life, and by their 

 cattell, they fupply the want they have of come and 

 graine, by trucking and exchange. But that which 

 makes thefe Jandes more inhabited and peopled, is the 

 riches of the mines that are found there, for that all o- 

 beys to golde and filver . By reafon of the mines there 

 are fome dwellings of Spaniards and Indians , which 

 are increafed and multiplied , as Potozi and GafaAw- 

 Uc qua m Peru, andCacatecdj'm new Spam. There are 

 alto through all thefe niountaines great dwellings of 

 the Indians,which to this day are maintained^yea feme 

 will fay they increafe, but that the labour of the mines 

 dooth conlumc many, and fome generall difeafes have 

 deftroyed a great part, as the Cocolifle in new Sfawe.-yet 

 they finde no great diminution . In thisextreamitiecf 

 of high ground they finde two commodities, as I have 

 {aide, of paftures and mines , which doe svell counter- 

 vailc the two other that are in the lower grounds alon- 

 gcft the feacoaft,that is,the commerce of the fea, & the 

 aboundance of wine which gro weth not but in the hot 

 landes* Betwixt thefe two extreames there is ground 

 of a rneane height , the which,although it bee in fbme 

 partes higher or lower one than other 5 yet doth it not 

 approach neyther to the heate of the fea coaft 5 nor the 

 intemperature of the mountaines . In this forte of foile 

 there groweth many kindes of graine , as wheate,bar- 

 ley,and mays, which grows not at all in the high coun 

 tries , but well in the lower, there islikevvifeftoreof 

 pafture,cattel,fruits,and greene forrefts.This partis the 

 beft habitation of the three, for health and recreati 

 on ; and therefore it is beft peopled of any par te of the 

 Indite, the which I have curioufly obferved in manie 

 voyages that I have vndertaken , and have alwayes 



N 3 found 



