You may judge by that which I have already represented, what the Goodness and Temperature of the Air is; whereunto this may be added for a further Testimony, that although all our Company were Strangers, yet never a one of them was sick, albeit they were in continual Travel and Labour, and did sometimes sweat, and sometimes take Wet. They drank Water fasting, and fed many times on that which the Earth did there bring forth. Neither had they any regard to keep themselves from the Serenes, nor from the Moon or Sun, which indeed in those Parts is not over-vehement. Only about Mid-night, they covered themselves with Wool, and did lie and repose themselves thereupon. And for the Inhabitants, they are commonly healthy, and many of them very aged, although they have nothing but the bare Earth for their Pallet, which is an Argument of the Wholesomeness and Pureness of the Soil. For if it were a wet and weeping Ground, or had any Viciousness in the Mould, they would raise their Lodgings higher from the Earth, as they do that live in the _Philippines_, and other Countries which I have viewed. And this is further confirmed by their Flesh and Fish, which although it be unsalted, yet will it keep sweet, and without Corruption two Days. And the Fruits which are brought from thence are exceeding good, as we had Proof by two that I took care to bring along with me, altho' they had not their full Maturity and Growth when I gathered them from the Tree. We have not seen any barren and sandy Ground, nor any Thistles, or Trees that are thorny, of whose Roots do shew themselves, no Marshes or Fenns, no Snow upon the Mountains, no Snakes or Serpents, no Crocodiles in the Rivers, no Worms that use with us to hurt and consume our Grain, and to work us so much Displeasure in our Houses, no Fleas, Catterpillers, or Gnats. This is a Prerogative that hath the Advantage of all the Privileges that Nature hath bestowed on other Places, and is worthy to be compared, or rather preferred before any Delicacy of the Countries of _India_, some of which are abandoned and uninhabited, meerly by reason of these Incommodities, and of sundry others that are distastful unto the Inhabitants, as my self have oftentimes been Witness. These (_Sir_) are the Vertues and Excellences of the Countries which I have discovered, of which I have already taken the Possession in the Name of your Majesty and under your Royal Banner, as appeareth by the Acts which I keep safely in my Power, whereunto I proceeded after this ensuing manner. First (_Sir_) we erected a Cross, and built a Church in Honour of our Lady of _Loretto_. Then we caused Twenty Masses to be celebrated there, and our Troops made haste thither to gain some Indulgences. We also made a solemn Procession, and observed the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the which was carry'd in Procession, your Banner being ever displayed, and marching before it thro' a great Circuit of Countries, which were honour'd with the Presence of the same.