Natural and Moral History of the Indies

of the Holy Gospel, to which He deigned at the end of the ages to bring a people so blind, He who illuminates from the highest mountains of His eternity. Beyond that, everyone may also draw some fruit for themselves, for however base the subject may be, the wise man draws wisdom for himself, and from the vilest and smallest creatures one can derive a very high consideration and a very useful Philosophy Natural Science. It only remains to warn the reader that the first two books of this history, or discourse, were written while in Peru, and the other five later in Europe, obedience having ordered me to return here. And thus, some speak of the things of the Indies as of present things, and the others as of absent things. So that this diversity of speaking does not offend, it seemed appropriate to note the cause here.