the South-Sea. I 



They fay, there is a Cleft or Opening in a Mountain, a- 

 . bout 1 20 Fathoms in Length, and the Depth under it 

 dreadful, which Nature has cut perpendicular down in the 

 Rock, to make Way for a River ; and whereas the Waters 

 of that River run with fuch Violence, that they carry away 

 very large Stones, there is no fording of it under 25 or 3 o 

 Leagues from that Place. The Width and Depth of 

 that Breach, and the Neceffity of pafTing that way, have 

 occafion'd the Invention of a Bridge of Ropes, made of the 

 Barks of Trees, being about 6 Foot broad, interwoven 

 with crofs Pieces of Wood, on which they pafs over, even 

 with loaded Mules, tho' not without Dread j for about the 

 Middle of it is felt a Shaking, which may occafion the Head 

 to fwim,- but in regard they muft go 6 or 7 Days Journey 

 about, to take another Way, all the Provifions and Com- 

 modities that circulate between Lima and Cufco, and the 

 Upper Peru, palfes over that Bridge. Towards the keep- 

 ing of it in Repair, they pay a Toll of four Royals for each 

 Mule's Load, which brings an immenfe Sum in to the 

 King, befideswhat it cofts in Repairs. 



The Trade for European Commodities is not the only Trade 

 Thing that brings Ships to Pifco ; they alfo refort thither Kfc®. 

 for their Stores of Wine and Brandy, which is there cheaper 

 and more plentiful than in any other Port ; becaufe befides 

 what the Territory produces, it is brought thither, as I have 

 faid before, from lea, from Chinca, which is fix Leagues 

 North of Pifco, where the Temple of the Sun was, before 

 the Conqueft by the Spaniards ; and laftly it is brought 

 from Lanafque, 20 Leagues diftant towards the S.E. being 

 look'dupon as the beft Wines in Peru; butallthofe Wines 

 are extraordinary ftroug, and not very wholfome $ which 

 is the Reafon why the Spaniards fcarce drink any of them; 

 the Sale being almoft entirely among the Blacks, the In- 

 dians, the Mulattoes, and fuch-like People. Inftead of 

 Wine, many Spaniards^ out o^ an extravagant Prejudice, 

 4rink Brandy. 



Bb The 



