Chap. IV. 



part of Guiana 



AMERICA 457 



and on the South, with Qbarcas ; enjoying for the mod part a tem- 

 perate and good Air, neither over-heated with the fcorching Sun in the day, nor 

 damp'd with any cold Mifts or Dews in the Evening, as fome parts of the Plains 

 of Perware, but well water'd with many frefli Rivers, which make the Valleys and 

 lower Grounds of it good Pafturage, able to maintain great Herds of Cattel. The 

 Woods are efpecially ftor'd with the Coca, whofe Leaf is accounted reftorative, and 

 with much excellent Vcnifon. 



In this Province alfo there are fome lefler Divifions of Countreys neccflary to ^J*™^ 

 bedefcrib'd, vi^. the cold and barren Countrey Bambon, jutting againft Guanuco, t °^ e r $ "*£"- 

 inhabited antiently by a valiant People, efpecially near the Lake Cbincacocba, which ^ffi "2 

 is ten Leagues in circumference j in the middle of it are feveral Cliffs and little 

 Ides : And out of this Lake alfo the famous River Ve la flata hath its original, and 

 runs through the Valley Xauxa y receiving by the way the Streams Taws, Meat, 

 Abancay, Apurima, Tucay, and others. 



The next Countreys in order towards the South are Tarana, abounding with 

 Wheat, and the eminent Valley Xauxa, furrounded with fnowy Mountains. The 

 Inhabitants by a general Name call'd Guancas, were antiently divided into three 

 forts, M$ the Maracabika, Laxapalanga y and Xauxa. Here were alfo feveral ftately 

 Houfes built by the Ingas. 



Upon this Valley borders the Village Acqs near a Moorifh place full of Canes - 

 but before you approach the Village you come near a high Plain, where the Ruincs 

 of an antient Stru<Srure appear ; and fomewhat farther the Palace <Pico : from 

 whence the High-way directs to the Bridge Angoyaca, which leads crofs the River 

 Xauxa i near which the Ingas had feveral magnificent Structures, and Baths of 

 warm Springs. Not far from hence is the Village <Picoy ; between which and M* 

 goyaca the Arm of the River Xauxa is cut with a Bridge, becaufe in the Winter it 

 glides fo fwift that they cannot Ferry over it. 



From ficoy you go to the Wild, in whofe Center (lands the antient Caftle Pucara, 

 (which in the feruVian Tongue fignifies InVmcible Fort) where the Ingas receiv'd their 

 Tribute from the neighboring People that live amongft the fnowy Mountains. 



The Banks of the great River Vinaque arecrown'd with the Ruines of antient 

 Stru&ures, which (as the Natives relate) were built by foreign People ; which Af- 

 fertion of theirs feems to be confirm'd by the form and manner of Building, differ- 

 ing from the Ingas Strudures, which us'd to be long and narrow. Moreover, feve- 

 ral fweet Streams, abounding with Fifli, efpecially Crabs, glide through the Plain- 

 Countrey out of the Mountains Andzs. 



Not far from hence appears the Plain Cbapas y and the Palaces <Pilcas t of which 

 now nothing remains but a heap of Rubbifli, which lies in the Center <$ feru. A 

 frelV water River, which gives the fore*mention'd Palaces their Denomination, 

 glides out of Soras, and wafhes the High-way and ftately Temple of the Sun. 



The Countrey Soras, exceeding fertile, and ftock'd with Gold and Silver Mines, 

 is inhabited by a People which go Cloth'd in woollen Cloth, and for their Valor 

 formerly much efteern d by the Ingas. 



Thofe that inhabit the Countrey Uramar are call'd Cbancas, whofe Neighbors 

 poffefsa longTradt of Land abounding with Cattel and Fruit, but of late arc mod 

 of them deftroy'd by the Spaniards. 



The River Abanca, which takes its original in the Mountainous County farina- 

 cocba, wafhes feveral Royal Buildings, and at laft difcharges its Waters into the Ri- 

 ver Xauxa. 



On each fide of the great River Apurima are erefted two wonderful Stone Pillars, 



Vv 3 





over 



\ 



