Sonderlinge reysen van Joseph, den geboornen Indiaan; bevattende een aanmerklijke beschrijvingh der landen,...

In their land they have neither gold nor other metals; but it is brought to them from elsewhere, from some mountains, fully three hundred miles from there.

Soil.

The region around Caranganor has a flat soil, being green and fertile. In a large stretch of land one sees no mountains. It has a good, mild climate. The men are ash-colored, but those who live in the mountains are fairer and die only at a good

Great age of the people, &c.

old age. Joseph told us that there were people over a hundred years old who had never yet lost a tooth from their mouths.

Fertility of the land.

The land, as has already been said, shows itself to be very fertile, although it bears no wheat. One also has no horses here. The grain is brought there from other islands. The horses come from Ormus and from some mountains.

Horses.

The inhabitants do not use them except only to carry burdens when they want to transport some goods to another place. They do not even use them in war.

War weapons.

The infantry go into battle armed with bows, arrows, swords, and shields. They also sometimes use spears. They are very good fencers and fighters. Some make breastplates from fish skins, proof against all gunfire; others use iron for this.

Animals, and cheap chickens.

All kinds of animals are found here, such as cattle, rams, sheep, buffaloes, and more other types, honored by the heathens as gods. There is a multitude of elephants; furthermore, many pigs, chickens, geese, and other poultry. One can buy a hundred chickens here for one guilder.

Rice.

Very fine rice grows in this land, from which the inhabitants prepare very good bread. Twenty kinds of herbs are found here, which provide the people with good food. They have a great fondness for roots. They do not lack oil and sugar, but they do lack pomegranates,