Garcilasso de la Vega says that he was at school with Pedro de Candia’s son, at Cuzco, who inherited his father’s stature; for being only twelve years old he had a body large enough for one twice his age.
[309] The large island at the mouth of the river of Guayaquil.
[310] G. de la Vega, in relating these events, copies largely from Cieza de Leon (i, lib. ix, caps. 1, 2, and 3).
[311] Macaws.
[312] Sarsa, a bramble, and parilla, a vine.
[313] Smilax officinalis H. B. K. The root of sarsaparilla was brought to Europe in about 1530. The stem is twining, shrubby, and prickly. Acosta says that the water on the island of Puna, flowing past the sarsaparilla roots, has healing virtues (lib. iii, cap. 17). There is a great trade in sarsaparilla down all the Peruvian tributaries of the Amazon.
[314] This is the officer who afterwards deserted Gonzalo Pizarro, and was the first to sail down the Amazon.
[315] A Quichua word.
[316] Inns.
[317] More correctly Paca-muru.