The chief Towns and Places of note are, 1. Chuquinga, a great Town, and held to be naturally almost impregnable, as being environ’d round about either with deep unfordable Waters, or with Mountains unpassable, and having one onely Cawsey leading to it, reported to be for two or three Leagues together no broader than to permit one single Person to march conveniently upon it.
2. The City Pucara, which was formerly well inhabited, but at present nothing remains of it, except the ruin’d Walls of great Houses, and large Images of Stone.
3. Ayavire, by the Spaniards call’d Las Sepulturas, being a Place especially enobled by the stately Monuments of the Peruvian Nobility which were found there.
4. Hatuncolla, the Metropolis or chief Town of this Province, seated upon the Banks of the River Caravaya, whose Streams are very much fam’d for Gold.
The River Caravaya, which glides from the Andes Eastward to the City Juan del Oro, produces much fine Gold, but not without the loss of many People, which are kill’d by the unwholsom Air and Damps that arise here.
The Lake Titicaca.
The Lake Titicaca, which washes the Countrey Collao on the North, the Province of Omasuy on the East, Chaquito on the West, and Chuquiabo on the South, is one of the greatest Lakes of America, being eighty Leagues in circumference, and in several places as many Fathom deep; wherefore it is exceeding rough in windy Weather. Into this Lake ten great Rivers discharge their Waters, which run away again through a narrow, but very deep Channel, in which the Stream runs so strong, that no Boats are able to abide in it.
5. Chinquita, a Colony of Spaniards upon the Banks of Titicaca, having many small Islands in it of a good and fruitful Soil, abounding in Fish and variety of Sea-Fowl; it is suppos’d to be fourscore Leagues distant likewise from the South Sea, having onely one Estuary or Mouth, which is something strait, but of such a deep Water and violent Stream, that (as Acosta testifieth of it) it is not possible to build a Bridge of Stone or Timber over it; but the Natives in stead thereof have laid a Bridge of Straw upon it, which serves as well, viz. so many great Bundles of Straw, Sedge, or such like matter, well and surely made up and fastned together, as will reach from one side or Bank of the Estuary to another; at which likewise having made them sure, they cast some good quantity of more Straw and Sedge upon them, and have a Bridge very convenient, upon which they both securely pass themselves, and also drive Cattel, and do other necessary Business. The Water is neither bitter nor brackish, yet is not drinkable because of its muddiness. Several Islands that lie in the Lake serv’d formerly for Store-houses of the chiefest Goods, which the People thereabouts living near the High-way would not trust in their Villages.
The Plant Totara.