the South-Sea. 21 7 



Motion is eafy to conceive, by that whith is obfervM lit 

 the Current of Rivers, or, if you pleafe, by that of a Ma- 

 thematical Spindle; if the Sun attracts Vapours after that 

 Manner, it is not to be admired that the Earth heated fhould 

 attract the Clouds. 



In fine, I could farther ground this Attraction on a Piece 

 of Experience,, which fliewsus,that Fire to fubfift requires 

 a Flux of Air. If a burning Coal be put into a Bottle, and 

 it be clofe ftopp'd, it is immediately quench'd. Thus rea- 

 foningfrom the greater to the leflfer, a Body much heated 

 may be compared to a Coal, and it may be concluded that 

 the faid Heat cannot fubfift without a Flux, or PalTage of 

 the Air about it, which being more condens'd, pufhes on 

 and draws towards the Fire, as we fee the outward Air 

 enter into a Chamber through little Holes, with more Ra- 

 pidity when it is heated, than when there is no Fire in it. 



I leave it to Philofophers to give more convincing Reafons 

 for that Drought ; it is enough for a Traveler, in declaring 

 of Fa<Ss,flightly to explain them,to credit what he relates,and 

 prepare the Reader for what he fays that is extraordinary. 

 Thus becaufe it never rains at Lima^ the Houfes are only jjoufes 

 cover' d with a fingle Mat laid flat, with the Thicknefs of a ytrfd ml 

 Finger of Aflies on it, to fuck up the Moifture of the Fogs ; Mats - 

 and the beautifulleft are built only with unburnt Bricks, 

 that are made of Clay, work'd up with a little Grafs, and 

 dry'd in the Sun, which neverthelefs lafts Ages, becaufe the 

 Rain never walhes it away. 



The Walls of the City, which ought to be an everlaft- Fortification 

 ing Work, are no otherwife built; they are between 18. 

 and 25 Foot high, and nine in Thicknefs at the Gordon $ 

 fo that 5 in all the Compafs of theTown, there is no one Place 

 broad enough to mount a Cannon, which makes me be- 

 lieve, that they were built only to oppofe any Attempts of 

 the Indians. The Wall is flank' d with Baftions, whole 

 Flank is of about tj Fathoms perpendicular with the 

 Curtin, and the Face of about 30 Fathoms, which 

 make the Angle of the Epaule of 130 Degrees, which 



F f occalions 



