$6 A V O Y A G E T O Book VIL 



of canes are not the leaft, and yield an excellent, 

 kind of fugar. All thefe fields and plantations are 

 cultivated by negro (laves, purchafed for this fer- , 

 vice and the fame is feen in the other improved 

 parts of Valies. 



The olive plantations appear like thick forefls ; for 

 befides the height, magnitude, and fulnefs of leaves of 

 thefe trees, in all which they exceed thofe of Spain, 

 they are never pruned, by which means their branchej* 

 became fo interwoven, that the light cannot pene- 

 trate through their foliage. The plough is not ufed 

 here, the only cultivation they require, being to 

 clear the holes made at the foot of each for receiv- 

 ing the water, to keep the trenches open which con- 

 vey it, and every three or four years to cut down 

 all Ihoots or cions, in order to form pafiages for 

 ' gathering the fruit. With this fmall trouble the 

 inhabitants have an uncommon plenty of the fined 

 olives, which they either commit to the prefs for 

 Oil, or pickle, they being particularly adapted to 

 the latter, both with regard to their beauty, large* 

 neft, and flavour* Their oil is much preferable to 

 that of Spain. 



The country contiguous to the city is covered 

 with gardens, producing all the herbs and fruits 

 known in Spain, and of the fame goodnefs and 

 beauty, befides thofe common to America ; all which 

 fiouriili here in a very uncommon degree; fo that 

 none of the parts of Peru, at lead fuch as we vifited, 

 are to be compared with thofe of the neiofhbourhood, 

 of Lima, where every place is covered with fruits 

 and efcuient vegetables. 



It alfo enjoys another fingular advantage, the 

 whole year being as it were fummer with regard to 

 the plenty and treihnefs of fruits-, for the feafons of 

 the year varying alternately in Valles and "the moun- 

 tains, when the time of fruits is over in Valles, ic 

 begins on the fkirts of the mountains i and the dif-. 



tancc 



