Next the River Claru comes in view, which is taken for a Boundary between Peru and Chili.
Eastward up into the Countrey you come to Santa Cruiz, built at the Foot of a Mountain in a Plain near a Brook, which rushing forth from a Rock glides through the City to a Lake full of delicious Fish. The Houses of Stone, are cover’d with Palm-Tree Leaves; and besides the Church there is also a Cloyster, inhabited by the Monks De la Merced. In former times the Peruvian Houses were built of Clay, and were often destroy’d by their Neighbors the Cheriguanacs and Titanes, who made Feasts with as many as they took of them. The People about this Place are meek and poor spirited, and speak besides four Languages, the Diagnitan Tongue, common amongst all of them. Before the Arrival of the Spaniards they went Cloth’d in Ostritches Feathers, but since taught to weave Cotton, they now make their Apparel of the same, and upon the account of Barter, drive a great Trade in it: They Dye their Cotton with the boyl’d Roots and Leaves of a little Tree.
Eastward beyond Santa Cruiz lies the Countrey Paicanos, eminent for the great Calabashes which grow there, exceeding good to keep both wet and dry Meats in.
The Countrey receives a vicissitude of excessive Cold and intolerable Heat; the hard Winters taking beginning in May, and continuing till the beginning of August. In the middle of our Summer a South-wind blows seven Weeks together here, to the great prejudice of all Plants, which are during that time often wash’d away by continual Rains. About Christmas they Sowe, and gather in their Harvest in March. During the rainy Season the Ways cannot be travell’d, being all overflow’d by the Rivers; neither doth the Palm-Wood, which is four days Journey in length, permit any access to the said City Santa Cruiz, because the conflux of Waters makes it a Moor all over; besides which, the Tygers, Bears, and Serpents, make the Ways dangerous, especially at that time.
Through this Countrey the Spanish Captain Nusco de Chavas travell’d, when he discover’d the Taguamacis, a numerous People, which dwell along the great River De la Plata.
The Countrey about Santa Cruiz produces all manner of Fruit, but few Trees, because of the want of Rain; but Corn, Maiz, Wine, Granadillas, Luiumas, and Tucumay, as also the Plant Hachalindi, in the Latine Tongue call’d Mirabile Peruanum, grow here in great abundance; which last shoots up to the bigness of a pretty large Body, full of Juice, and of a yellowish colour, out of which shoot knotty Boughs, and about each Knot two Leaves resembling the Herb Nightshade; the Flowers which hang at the ends of the Boughs are long, and pleasant to the Eye, by reason of their mixture of Purple, White, and Yellow, and also of a sweet smell. It is a strange Secret in Nature, that this Flower opens at Midnight, if any Light come near the same: The Root also is accounted an effectual Medicine against the Dropsie.
Sect. VII.
Collao.
Situation and Description of Collao.
Collao lieth Southward of those Countries, which go under the general Name of the Province of Cusco, having on the West, Lima; on the South, Charcas; but Eastward, and to the North-East, it is shut up by a Ridge of Mountains, running in one Body or continu’d Tract from the Confines of Collao, as far as the City of Cusco, where they divide. The Countrey is generally plain, commodiously water’d in all Parts with fresh Rivers, and consequently affording rich Pasturage and good Herds of Cattel.
Chief Towns and Places of note.