43^ A VOYAGE TO Book VL 



or four pieces, each about an inch and a half in length, 

 are ufed for the infufion, and with fuch fort of wine 

 as will befi: correct its bitternefs. Though this excel- 

 lent herb grows in moft of thofe frozen deferts^ ytt 

 the beft is that in the fouthern province of Peru. 

 The leaves are very fmall^ and the few it bears grow 

 Contiguous to the fcem. 



The paramos or barren heaths likewife yield the 

 contrayerva, which makes a part of the materia me- 

 dica in Europe, and is confidered as an excellent alexi- 

 pharmic. This is alfo a creeping plant, with a leaf 

 of about three or four inches in length, and little 

 more than one in breadth, thick, and the back part 

 ' of it exceeding foft to the touch, and of a deep 

 green. The other fide is alfo fmooth, but of a light 

 green. On its ftem grows a large bloflbm, confifting 

 of many flowers inclining to a violet colour: but 

 neither thefe nor the other flowers, which grow in 

 great abundance in thefe countries, according to its 

 feveral climates, are much efteemed ; fo that, when 

 wanted, the readieft way is to fend and have them cut 

 from the plant. 



Though the fe verity of the air on the deferts is 

 fiich, that all animals cannot live there, yet they af- 

 ford many beafl:s of venery, which feed on the ftraw 

 or rufh peculiar to thofe parts-, and fome of thefe 

 creatures are met with on the higheft mountains, 

 where the cold is intolerable to the human fpecies. 

 Among the rufhes are bred great numbers of rabbits, 

 and fome foxes, both which, in their, appearance and 

 qualities, refemble thofe of Carthagena and other parts 

 of the indies. 



The only birds knov;n in thofe rigorous places are 

 partridges, condors, and zumbadores or hummers. 

 The partridges differ fomething from thofe of Eu- 

 rope ; they nearly refemble the quail, and are very 

 fcarce. 



The 



