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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ...paine in the feete and handes. Finally, their operation is outward. But that of the Indies, whereof I speake (without molesting of foote or hand, or any outward parte), troubles all the entrailes within: and that which is more admirable, when the sunne is hote, which maketh mee imagine that the griefe wee feele comes from the qualitie of the aire which wee breathe. Therefore, that is most subtile and delicate, whose colde is not so sensible as piercing. All this ridge of mountains is for the most part desart, without any villages or habitations for men, so as you shall scarce finde any small cotages to lodge such as do passe by night. There are no beasts, good or bad, but some vicunas, which are their countrey muttons, and have a strange and wonderful property, as I shall shew in his place.1 The grasse is often burnt, and all blacke with the aire, and this desart runnes five and twenty or thirty leagues overthwart, and in length above five hundred leagues. There are other desarts or places not inhabited, which at Peru they call Punas2 (speaking of the second poynt we promised), where the quallitie of the ayre cutteth off mans life without feeling. In former time the Spaniardes went from Peru to the realme of Chille by this mountaine, but at this day they do passe commonly by sea, and sometimes alongst the side of it. And though that way bo laborious and troublesome, yet is there not so great daunger as by the mountaine, where there are plaines, on the which many men have 1 Lib. iv, cap. xli. a Punas are the lofty plateaux of the Andes. INTENSE COLD ON THE PUNAS. 133 perished and died, and sometimes have scaped by great happe, whereof some have remained lame. There runs a small breath, which is not very strong nor violent, but proceedes in...