414 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



grow more inveterate after the defeat they had received 

 under Melca Chrillos. In the Head of that prince flain 

 in battle, they appointed his fon, a young man of good 

 hopes. 



Facilidas, trufting to his former reputation acquired 

 in thefe mountains in his father's time, on the 3d of March 

 1638 advanced with a large army into Lafta, with a defign to 

 bring thefe peafants to a battle. But the rebels, growing wife 

 by their lolTes, no longer chofe to trull themfelves on the 

 plain, but, retiring to the llrongeft polls, fortified them 

 fo judicioufly, that, without rifking any lofs themfelves, 

 they cut off all fupplies or provilions coming to the king's 

 army. 



It happened at that time the cold was fo excefllve that 

 almoft the whole army perifhed amidft the mountains ; great 

 part from famine, but a greater Hill from cold, a very re- 

 markable circumllance in thefe latitudes. Lafta is barely 

 12° from the Line, and it was now the equinox in March, fo 

 that the fun was but 12° from being in the zenith of Lafta, 

 and there was in the day twelve hours of fun. Yet here is 

 an example of an army, not of foreigners, but natives, pe- 

 rifhing with cold in their own country, when the fun is no 

 farther than i z° from being vertical, or from being diredly 

 over their heads ; a ftrong proof this, as I have often remark- 

 ed, that there is no way of judging by the degrees of heat 

 in the thermometer, what efTea that degree of heat or 

 cold is to have upon the human body. 



The eighth year of the reign of Facilidas, Claudius, go- 

 yfrnor of Begemder, his brother, revolted and joined the re- 



I bels 



