orie of the Indies, lib.^. 



,tvprkes, efpecially for the ornament of Kings and No- 

 blcmen,thtir Temples and Idolls. 1 here are alfb other 

 great birdes, which have excellent and fine feathers, 

 .whereof they make plumes of fundry colours', efpecL 

 #Uy when they go to warrc, inriching them with gold 

 *ndfilver very artificially, which was a matter of great 

 price. They have the fame birdes ftill,but they arc not 

 fo curious, neither do they raakcfo many gentill devi- 

 fes as they were wont. There arc other birdes at the In- 

 dits , comrade toihefe of fb rich feathers , the which 

 (befides that they are ill favovred,) ferve to no other 

 vfe but for dung D and yet perchance they are of no leffc 

 profite. I have considered this, wondering at the provi 

 dence of the Creator, who hath fo appointed, that all 

 creatures fliould fervc man. In feme Hands or Pht- 

 res , which are ioyning to the coaft gof Peru^ wee 

 fee the toppcs of tjie mountaines all white, and to 

 fight , you would take it for fnow , or for fome white 

 land , but they are heapes ofdung of fea fo wle which 

 go continually thither : and there is fo great aboun^ 

 dance , as it rifcth many ellcs , yea , many launces in 

 height,which feemes but a fable. They go with boatcs 

 to thefe Ilands,oncly for the dung,for there is no other 

 profit in them. And this dung is fo commodious and 

 profitable, as it makes the earth yeelde great abouru 

 d mce of fruite.Thcy cal this dung GHAIIO> whereof the 

 valley hath taken the name, which they call Limagua- 

 *u,in the valleys ofP^> where they vfe this dung,and 

 it is the mod fertile ofallthatcountrie. The quinces, 

 poungranets,and other fruitcs there, exccede all other 

 in bountie and greatnes-and they fay, the reafon is, for 

 that the water wherewith they water it , paflTeth by a 

 . land compaffed with this dung , which caufeth the 

 beaatb of this fruitc. So as thefe birdes have not only 



the 



