ffi A Voyage to 



that is, the Mountain Country^ abundance of Merchants 

 come down every Year, and carry away all. the Guinea 

 Pepper that grows in the Vales of Arica, Soma, Taena 9 

 Locumha, and others ten Leagues about; whence it is 

 reCkon'd there is exported to the Value of above 600000 

 Pieces of Eight, thd' fold cheap. 



Confidering the Smalnefs of the Place, it is hard to be-' 

 lieve that fuch vaft Quantities Ihould go from them ; £<n\ 

 excepting the Vales, the Country is every where fo parch'd 

 up, chat there is no green to be feen. This Wonder is 

 produced by means of that Bird's Dung, which, as was 

 laid before, is brought from Iquique, and fertilizes the Earth 

 €rc4t FtrtiH- in fuch Manner, that it yields 4 or 500 for one, of all Sorts 

 ty - of Grain, Wheat, Indian Corn, (jc. but particularly the 



Agi, or Guinea Pepper, when they know how to manage 

 k right. 



When the Seed is fprouted, and fit to be tranfplantcd, 

 the Plants are fet winding, that is, not in a ftrait Line, but 

 like an S, to the end that the Difpofition of the Furrows, 

 which convey the Water to them, may carry it gently to 

 Cultivating t ' ie F° ot °f *h c Plants ; then they lay about each Plant of 

 of Guinea Guinea Pepper as much Guana, or Birds Dung, above- 

 Peppr. mention'd, as will lie in the Hollow of a Man's Hand. 



When it is in Bloffom, they add a little more ; and, laftly, 

 when the Fruit is form'd, they add a good Handful, al- 

 ways taking care to water it, becaufe it never rains in that 

 Country; ocherwife, the Salts it contains not being dif- 

 folv'd, would burn the Plants, as has been found by Ex- 

 . perience. For this Reafon it is laid down at feveral Times 

 with a regular Management, the Neceflity whereof has 

 . been found by Ufe, by the Difference of the Crops pro- 

 duced. 



For carrying of the Guana, or Dung, to the Lands, 

 g^ttiey generally, at Arica, make ufe of that Sort of little 

 Camels, by the Indians of Peru call'd Llamas ; by thofe 

 of Chili, Chillehueque and, by the Spaniards, Cameras de la 

 Tkrra, o-r the Country Sheep. Their Heads are fmall in 



Propor- 



