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 nr. large it hath a mighty fwing and fall in the míddle; and therefore they lore the Rop~s of the Basket very eafily, and by degrees, umill it comes to the middle, which is the loweíl: part of che Cable ; and thence by main force they draw it up- wards. There are·certain Jndit!tns who live near that place, and are appointed by the Countrey for that work, and are very affifl:ant and helpfull to Paílengers wich- om any confideration of interefr, or payment whatfoever. Sorne Paífengers who have ufed that kind ofFerry, putting their legs and feet in che basket, have with- ouc other help than their armes and hands onely forced themfelves upwards upon the Cablé. 1 remember, when 1 was a Boy, that I paífed chis way three or four times ; but being very young, the 111dians carried me on their backs ; in the fame manoer they tranfport their Cattel on the other fide ; bue this is done with much more crouble : For but few of them can pafs at a time, and chofe of the leífer fort, füch as Sheep, Goats and Kids, wbich they tye faíl: within che basket ; and as for Mules, Horres, Afies or Cows, they are of too great a burthen for this fort of Ferry, but are driven about to the great Bridges, orto fhallower places, where. che River is fordable. This kind of paífage the Jndiam call Vrug_a, and is one)y made u[e of by the Coumrey people, that have occafion t-o pafs from one fide to the other; but in the great Roads che convenience is better. The Jndiam all along the Coaíl: of Peru, Fifh in cheir litrle Boats made of Rufhes, and adventure four or five Leagues out at Sea in them, and farcher if oc- cafion requJre ; for that Sea is called die Pacifick, being calm for che moíl: pare, and not fubjeél: to bad weacher ; but when they carry things of greac burthen, they u[e Floats made of Timber. The Fifher-men, when they go to Sea, kneel down in their Boats, and fü on cheir legs, and fo tow with a Paddle made of a large Cane, clefr cowards the end ; for in that Countrey chey have great Canes, which are as bigas a Man's thigh ; of wbich we fhall crear more largely hereafter. This Cane they hold wich both hands, one being placed at che top, and che ocher in the miéldle ; and che end being made bread in che fhape of an Oar, they Row their Boat forward ; che Boat being very light, feels every füoke of che Oar, and rurns, chen they change .che ha!1d to. the oc!1er fide, and fo fhifc it over again, which moves che Boat w1ch an mcred1ble fw1fcnefs. ' Then for cheir Fiílmy, when they go to take great Fiíl1, chey ufe a Fifgig in the fame manner as they ílrike Whales with in Bifcay. To chis Fifgig, which is a fharp Spear at che end of a Staff, they faften a line ofabout 2 0 , 30 or 1º fachom in length, che end of which they tye to che head of che Boat; che Fiíh being íl:rook the Indian vears his Line, and gives him Rope as faíl: as he can ; and when he hach given it all out, he chen plays with che Fifh umill ic is quite ti.red ; and fo ma- íl:ering it, they cake it, and fome of them are of an incredible bigne~. They Fifh alfo wich Nets and Hooks; bue chey make no great rnatter of their Fifh- ing in that manner ; for cheir Nets being fmall and manageable by .one Man, can never inclo[e any number; and their Hooks being il1 rnade, not knowing the ufe of Sceel or Iron, they take very few with thar Are ; for chough chey have Mines of both Mecals, yet chey know not how to feparare and purifie the Ore: Their Boats ofRufhes are not able to bear Sail, becaufe chey ha ve no Keel, nor hold in the water, and perhaps make beccer way ' ith a Paddle, chan wich a Sail; rhough on their Floats made ofWood, they fet upa Sail, which ferves them be- fare che Wind. Theíe are the A.rts which che Indians have invented for making lhort Voyages on che Seas, and for paffing fvvift and rapid currems; the which have received little improvement, for they were in uíe when 1 was there, and. believe chey have íl:ill cominued in the fame rnanner withQut alceracion; for they beinga poor fórt of miferable people, of mean dejeél:ed ~pirits, fo!low the old road, not afpiring to greater matters, t!~an a fupply of. their neceffiues: In the Hiíl:ory of Florida, che fixth Book, treatmg. chere of c~eir Canoes, we have couched upon chei.r contri- vances to PafS and Nav1gate on Rivers, which have a fwift and rapid currenc; fo that now we 01all noc enlarge farcher thereupon, bue rather proceed to che o- ther Conqneíl:s of che Inca, Capac Yupanqui. C HAP.