m^LOA's VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 597 



fpiration may be more copious. Laxative clyflers are often inje£led to mollify the con- 

 tradions of the inteftines, and other internal parts. External applications are alfo ap- 

 plied to foften the parts, and open the duds by which nature may evacuate the morbid 

 humour : for the fame intention and to check its progrefs, cordials and diuretic draughts 

 are prefcribed, and alfo the bath ; but the latter only at the beginning of the firft ftage 

 of the dillemper ; for if it is found to increafe on the fecond day, bathing is no longer 

 ordered. 



The women of Lima are fubjed to a diftemper, extremely painful, very contagious, 

 -and almofl incurable ; namely, a cancer in the matrix, which even at the beginning is 

 attended with fuch excruciating pains, that their lives are one continued feries of groans 

 and complaints. During its progrefs, they difcharge great quantities of morbid humours, 

 become attenuated, fall into a ftate of languor, which gradually puts a period to their 

 lives. It ufually continues fome years, with intervals of eafe, during which, if the eva- 

 cuations do not entirely ceafe, they are confiderably intermitted ; the pains feem over, 

 and they are capable of dreffing themfelves and v/alking abroad : but the difeafe fudden- 

 ly returns with double violence, and the patient becomes totally difabled. This diftem- 

 per comes on fo imperceptibly, as not to be indicated either by the countenance or pulfe, 

 till at its height ; and fuch is the contagion of it, that it is contraded only by fitting in 

 the fame chair commonly ufed by an infedled perfon, or wearing her cloaths ; but it has 

 not been known to aflfed the men, hufbands ufually living with their wives till the laft 

 ftage of the diftemper. Two caufes are afligned for this malady ; their exceflive ufe of 

 perfumes, which they always carry about them, and may doubtlefs contribute greatly 

 to promote it : the other a continual riding in their calafhes ; but this does not feem to 

 be of fo much confequence as the former. For then the moft diftinguilhed of the fair 

 fex in other countries, who ride in coaches, and even ufe the more violent exercife of 

 the horfe, would not be exempt from it. 



Slow or hedic fevers alfo prevail greatly in thefe countries, and are likewife conta- 

 gious, but more from a want of proper care in the furniture and apparel of the perfon 

 infeded, than any malignancy of the climate. 



The venereal difeafe is equally common in this country as in thofe we have already 

 mentioned ; it is indeed general in all that part of America ; and as little attention is 

 given to it till arrived to a great height, the general cuftom in all thofe parts, a repeti- 

 tion here would be needlefs. 



CHAP. Vin. — Fertility of the Territories of Li?na, and the Manner of cultivating 



the Soil. 



IT is natural to think that a country, where rain is feldom or ever known, muft of 

 neceflity be totally barren, whereas the country of Lima enjoys a fertility to be envied, 

 producing all kinds of grain, and a prodigious variety of fruits. Here induftry and art 

 fupply that moifture which the clouds feem to withhold ; and the foil is by this means 

 rendered remarkably fruitful, amidft a continual drought. 



It has already been obferved, that one of the principal cares of the Yncas was the 

 cutting and difpofmg in the moft advantageous manner trenches or fmall canals, in ordet 

 to condud the waters of the rivers to nourifh every part, and render large fields capable 

 of producing grain. The Spaniards finding thefe ufeful works ready executed to their 

 hands, took cai*^ to keep them in the fame order ; and by thefe are watered the fpacious 

 fields of wheat and barley, large meadows, plantations of fugar-canes and olive-trees^ 



vineyards^ 



