The royal commentaries of Peru : in two parts / written originally in spanish by the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega; rendred into english by sir Paul Rycaut.

Royal Commentaries. , BooK III. which caíl:s out Fire, like the Volcano, where they found plenty of Proviíions; but the Coumrey was fo wet, that fot the fpace of tw,o Momhs rhey remained there it never ceafed one day from raining, which was fuch a damage to thern, that ~11 their Cloths became rotten by the moifiure. · In that Province, called Cumaco, which is fimate under the Equinoétial, or ve- ry near it, the Cinnamon grows, of which they went .in fearch; the Trees .whereof are tall and lofry, bearing a leaf, as bigas the Laurel, with a fmall forc of Fruit , which grows in Cluíl:ers like the Acorn. Thefe Trees grow wild in che Mountains, and produce a fort of Fruit, bue not fo good as that which is gathered from chofe Trees, vvhich che llldians plant, and cultivate in their ovvn Grounds; and vvhich having gathered, they lay it up in their íl:ores, and trade vvith it, into neighbouring Countries, though not into Peru; vvhere they ufo no orher forts of Spice than the Vchu, called by the Spaniards Axi , and by us red Pepper. CH A P. 11 l. O{ the great Dijficulties, and Hardjhips, fufiained by Gon- zalo Pi~arro, and hi-5 Companions; how they made a Bridge of Wood, and a fort of Ferry-Boat, to pafs the great River. T HE Sp"niards found, that in Cumaco, and the Countries thereunto adjoining¡ the Jndians went naked, withouc any Cloths, onely che Women for Mo¿efiy- fake wore a little flap before them; che Climate is fo exceílively hoc, that they need no Clochs, and is fo fübjeét to Rains, that they would become rorten in a íhort time, as we have mentioned before; and indeed che Sp11ni11rds confefs, that chofe Jndians <lid well not to crouble themfelves with care for Cloths, which would onely be troublefome, withouc any ufe. Go=alo Pifarro leaving thé greatefi pare of his People in Ct1macu, took wirh him a íinall parry of fuch as he efieemed mofi aétive, to try and fearch for fome Pafs, leading out of thé. Coumrey; far as yet rhe way for an hundred Leagues togecber, had been not1úng but Mountains, and Defarts, and Vv oods, \Yhich they were forced to ]¡¡.y open by the Harchet, and firength of rheir Armes; and fomecimes tbe Jndians , who were their Guards, deceived them, carrying them ouc of che way by Moumains, and Defarts, and difficuk pafiages, where the}' fuíl:ained Hunger, and Cold , wirhouc other fufienance rhan Herbs, and Roors, and wild Fruir, and conduél:ed rhem by by-ways, to avoid the Coumrey of their Friends and Confederates; bue in ca[e rhey happened to lead them arighr, then rhey were efieemed and applauded for good Guides. . With fuch Labours and Suflering_s as thefe, which may rather be fanfied than defcribed, they carne at lengrh to rhat Province which is called C11ca, which was more populous, than any rhey had formerly paffed, and where provHions were plemifull. Here che Chief Lord carne forrh in a peaceable rnanner to welcome tbem, and afforded them Provifions, which was the chief thing of which tbey ftood in want; there is a great River which paífes through this Countrey, and is the largefl: of thofe which, falling in together, rnake that River which fome call Ore/lana, and others 111aranmn. In