Chap. IV. *A M E %^l C A. 4.6J 



The River Caravaya, which glides from the Jndes Eaftward to the City Juan del 

 Oro, produces much fine Gold, but not without the lofs of many People, which are 

 kill'd by the unwholfom Air and Damps that arife here. 



The Lake Titicaca, which waflies the Countrey Qollao on the North, the Province ^uke t/- 

 ofOmafuy on the Eaft, Qbaquito on the Weft, and Cbtuiuiabo on the South, is one of" 

 the greated Lakes of America, being eighty Leagues in circumference, and in feve* 

 ral places as many Fathom deep ; wherefore it is exceeding rough in windy Wea* 

 ther. Into this Lake ten great Rivers difcharge their Waters, which run away 

 again through a narrow, but very deep Channel, in which the Stream runs fo 

 ftrong, that no Boats are able to abide in it. 



5. Qrina\uta y a Colony of Spaniards upon the Banks of Titicaca, having many 

 fmall Iflands in it of a good and fruitful Soil, abounding in Fifli and variety of 

 Sea*Fowl j it is fuppos'd to be fourfcore Leagues diftant likewifc from the South 

 Sea, having onely one EJluary or Mouth, which is foracthing ftrait, butoffucha 

 deep Water and violent Stream, that (as Acofta teftifieth of it) it is not poffiblc to 

 build a Bridge of Stone or Timber over it ^ but the Natives in ftead thereof have 

 laid a Bridge of Straw upon it, which ferves as well, vi^ fo many great Bundles of 

 Straw, Sedge, or fuch like matter, well and furely made up and faftned together, 

 as will reach from one fide or Bank of the Eftuary to another ; at which likewifeha* 

 ving made them fure, they caft fome good quantity of more Straw and Sedge up- 

 on them, and have a Bridge very convenient, upon which they both fecurely pafs 

 themfelves, and alfo drive Cattel, and do other neceffary Bufinefs. The Water is 

 neither bitter norbrackifti, yet is not drinkable becaufe of its muddinefs. Several 

 Iflands that lie in the Lake ferv'd formerly for Store*houfes of the chiefeft Goods, 

 which the People thereabouts living near the High-way would not truft in their 

 Villages. 



Here grows a certain Broom-Plant call'd Totara, good for many ufes, and is alfo J]^ r ^ lant 

 wholfom Food both for Man and Beaft 5 moreover, they cover their Houfes with 

 the fame, burn it on their Hearths, and make Boats. The Uros, a falvage People, 

 made Floats of Totara, which they ty'd together, and built Villages on the fame, 

 which drove to and again, according as the Wind blew. 



The Lake alfo breeds abundance of Fifh, and efpecially two forts, v*>> Sucbes, 

 which are very pleafing to the Palate, but unwholfom ; and the < Bogas } which 

 though lefs, and full of Bones, are a much better Food. There likewife breed 

 plenty of Fowls about the fame, efpecially wild Geefe and Ducks, 



When the Peruvians intend to Entertain any Perfon,theygo to catching of Fowls 

 (by them call'd Cbaco) after this manner : They make a Circle with the Floats 

 nam'd Balfas, and Rowing clofe to one another, take up the inclos'd Fowl with 

 their Hands. 



Moreover, the fore-mention'd Channel, through which the Lake Titicaca dif- 

 charges its Water, ends in a little Lake call'd Aulagas, likewifc full of dcfolate Ifles, 

 but hath no vifible place into which to empty its Water, therefore it muft needs, 

 according to the courfe of Nature, fall under Ground, where it commixes with a 

 Stream whofe original is unknown, though it be feen to fall into the South Sea. 



The Town is a Place of exttaordinary Wealth and Trading, and fo confider* 

 able, that the Governor thereof is always nam'd by the King of Spain himfelf, and 

 his Place eftimated at fifty thoufand Ducats per Annum. 



6. Ttaguanaco, at the Eftuary, or Mouth of the Lake, memorable onely for the 

 Ruines of certain great and ftupendious Buildings which antiently have flood 

 there, fome of the Stones whereof are faid to have been of thirty Foot length 



. X x 2 apiece, 



