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Chap. IV. AMERICA. 4** 



about the thickiiefs of a Cable, ftretch'd out by Sticks, Co that one goes tip oh one 

 fide, vvhileft another comes down on the other. Each Ladder beincr ten Fathom 

 long, is pitch'd upon its feveral Floor on which the Laborers reft before they go 

 up higher, for they make divers Floors according to the depth of the Mine. The 

 Laborers carry the Oar in Bags faftned before on their Breads, and falling back 

 over their Shoulders three and three together, the foremoft whereof ties alighted 

 Candle to his Thumb, and thus they help themfelves with both Hands. It is a 

 wonderful thing to confider, how the Peruvians are able to fcramble up and down 

 continually a hundred and fifty Fathom : But befidesmany other Inconveniences, 

 the Mines often fall in, or at leaft great pieces, which bury all the Diggers. The 

 Mines alfo,being exceffive cold,occafion to thole that are not us'd to them, a Vertigo 

 in the Head, and Vomiting. The Silver runs for the moft part between two 

 Rocks, as it were, in a long Channel, of which one fide is as hard as Flint, and 

 the other much fofter. This Silver is of different value ; the beft, call'd Qacilla or 

 Tacana, refembles Amber in colour j the worfer fort is blackifii, and fometimes of 

 an Afh-colour. The pieces of Oar are carry'd on the Backs of the Sheep Tacos to 

 the Mill, where being ground to Powder, they arc put into Furnaces to melt ; of 

 which there were once above fix thoufand on the top ofPotofe ; but fincethe Quick- 

 filver was found to cleanfe the fame, not a third part remains pure. 



In former times the Mines at Torco, two Leagues from the little Lake Julagasj 

 produced thofe vaft Treafures gather'd by the Ingas, which afterwards for the moft 

 part fell into the Spaniards Hands. 



As concerning the Sea-Coaft of Los Cbarcas, it lies as followeth : Southerly ^J ^' 

 from the River Tambopalla puts forth a three-pointed Rock into the Ocean, wdJJ^J^ 

 makes the Haven DeYlo, into which falls afrefli River. Next follow the round 

 Hill Mono de los Diabolos 7 and the Inlet before the Town Jrica, fecur'd from all ex- 

 cept a Wefterly Wind, where the Silver that comes from Totofi is Shipp'd for Lima. 

 Since the Englijb Admiral Sir Francis Drake took three Barks out of this Inlet it is 

 fortifi'd with a Caftle, which is ftor'd with Brafs Guns. 



Nine Leagues Southward the Tijfaqua falls into the Ocean ; and next you come 

 to the little Village Hicahic, fituate on a high and barren Tract of Land 3 as alfo 

 the Haven lerrapaca, which by an Inland is made very fecure. 



Not far from hence appears the Foot of Tiqua, where the Coaft begins to rife 

 very high- the Head of Tacama, the Stream Lottoya, otherwifc call'd De Loa } whole 

 Banks are inhabited by poor People • the River Montelo, the Promontory Mono 

 Moreno, be^>nd whole utmoft Point opens a Bay, fecur'd from all Winds by an 

 liland. The Inhabitants here feed on raw Filh. 



Next the River Clam comes in view, which is taken for a Boundary between 

 Peru and fjMli. 



Eaftward up into the Countrey you come to Santa (/«*<, built at the Foot of a 

 Mountain in a Plain near a Brook, which rufhing forth from a Rock glides through 

 the City to a Lake full of delicious Fifli. [The Houfesof Stone, are cover'd with 

 Palm-Tree Leaves ; and befides the Church there is alfo a Cloyfter, inhabited by^ 

 the Monks Dela Merced. In former times the Peruvian Houfes were built of Clay, . 

 and were often deftroy'd by their Neighbors the Qheriguanacs znd Tttanes y who made 

 Feafts with as many as they took of them. The People about this Place are meek 

 and poor fpirited, and fpeak befides four Languages, the Diagnitdn Tongue, com- 

 mon amongft all of them. Before the Arrival of the Spaniards they went Cloth'd 

 in Oftritches Feathers, but fince taught to weave Cotton, they now make their 

 Apparel of jhe fame, and upon the account of Barter, drive a great Trade in it: 



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