Hiftorie of the Indies lib, 4* 207 



The which have bin in efteeme, not onlieamongft the 

 Htbnwts AjSriaMtGreektStRffmansjLndother nations of 

 Europe and Afiajaut alfo amongft the moft retyrcd and 

 barbarous nations of the world,as by the Indians both 

 Eaft and Weft , where goUTand filvef is If efdlii'gfe^t: 

 efteetue, imploying it for the workes of their Temples 

 and Pallaces,& for theattyring and ornament of kings 

 and great peribnages. And although wehavcfound 

 fgsffe Bar&ariafts^ which know neither^oIdjjgr^Ive'fT 

 as it is reported ojTthofec>f^^, which tookcTthe 



bagges and fackes* wherein tfieiver was , the which 

 they caft vpon the ground, and left as a thing vnprofi- 

 table. AndP//;^ likewife writes of_the BAbitacques % 

 which abhorred gold, and therefore they buried it, to 

 the end that no man fliould vfeit. But at this clay they 

 finde few of thefe Floridiens or Bakiiacr*uc$ , but great 

 numbers of fuch a?efteeme/eeke,and make accoumpt 

 of gold and filver,havingho ne^etofeameit of theft 

 that go from Europe. It is true., their comoufiiHT 

 not yet conic to the heigh tofours, 

 fomuch worfluppedgold and filver , although they 

 were Idolaters , as (erne bYi^Cmijians , who have 

 committed manfgrea"t 'duf-rages fbfgold and filver. 

 Yet is it a thing very worthy confideration , that the 

 wifedomc of the Etcrnnll Lord, would inrich thofe 

 partes of the world ,whkh arc rnofi remote 5 and which 

 are peopled with men oflcfle civilitie andgoverne- 

 ment 3 planting there great ftore of mines, and in the 

 greateft aboundance that ever were, thereby to invite 

 men to fearchout thotc lands, and to poffeflTc them, to 

 the end that by this occafion, they might plant religi 

 on 5 and the worfhip of the true God , amongft thofc 

 that knew it not, fulfilling therein the prophecie of 



P Iie, 



