iS 8 The ^dturall and'M'oratt 



of a great circuite, yet are there few dwellings, for that 

 of it ielfe it engenders great Arcabntos^ as they call 

 them, which be Groves or very thicke Coppefes : and 

 on the plaines there are many maridies and bogges. 

 They give yet another notable reafon , why they are fo 

 fmally peopled , for that there have remained fcvvna- 

 turall Indians, through theinconfideratenefTeand dif- 

 order of the firft Conquerors that peopled it : and 

 thercfore 5 for the moftpart, theyivfeJftgw, but they 

 coft deere, being very fit to till the land. There growcs 

 neither bread nor wine in thefe Hands, for that the too 

 great fertilitic and the vice of thefoile, fuffers them 

 not to feede,but caftesall forth in grafle,very vncaqual- 

 ly. There are no olive trees, at the leaft,they beare no 

 olives, but manic greene leaves pleafant to the view, 

 which beare no fruite. The bread they vfe is of Cacave, 

 whereof we fhallheereafterfpeake.There is gold in the 

 riuers of thefel lands, which forne draw foorth, but in 

 fmall quantitie , I was little leffethen ayeerein theft 

 Handstand as it hath beene told meofthemaineland of 

 the jW/tt/where I have not been, as in Floridd,NicAra- 

 quA,GuatmtaU, and others, it is in a maner of this tem- 

 per,as I have defcribed:yet have I not fet downe every 

 particular of Nature in thefe Provinces of the firme 

 land,having no perfed knowledge thereof.The Conn- 

 trie which doth moft refc-mble Spaine , ,and the regions 

 of^^,inalltheWejfl/W/V5, istherealme ofchille, 

 .which is without thegenerall rule of thefe other Pro 

 vinces, being feated without the burning Zone, and 

 the Tropicke of Capricorn. This land ofit felfe is coole 

 and fertile, and brings forth all kindes of fruites that be 

 in Spainc^ ityeeldes great aboundancc of bread and 

 wine, andaboundesin paftures and cattell . Theaireis 



whple- 



