Chapter XXXIV: Front Matter (34)

3. _Nuestra Sennora de la Assumption_, commonly call’d _Assumption_ onely, lying yet higher up the River almost a hundred Leagues, a well built and well frequented Town, long since inhabited by two hundred Families at least of natural _Spaniards_, besides _Mestizos_, as they call them, which are the Breed of _Spaniards_ by the _American_ People, Men or Women, and _Mulattos_, which are likewise their Race, but begotten upon _Negro_’s, of both which there are reckon’d to be here some thousands.

4. _La Cividad Real_, or more commonly call’d _Ontiveros_, fourscore Leagues Northward from _Assumption_, seated on the Banks of the River _Parana_ in a fruitful Soil, as the Countrey generally is about all these Places; but the Air hereabouts is not so healthful.

5. _St. Anne_, upon the same River; and 6. _St. Salvador._

SECT. III.
Tucuman.

[Sidenote: Situation of _Tucuman_.]

Westward of _La Plata_ lieth the Countrey of _Tucuman_, extending it self as far as the Borders of _Chile_, a Countrey not yet well discover’d either to the North or the South. That part of it which lieth towards _Chile_ is well Manur’d and Husbanded, and likewise very fruitful; but that towards _Magellanica_, neither the one, nor the other, remaining altogether untill’d and barren.

[Sidenote: Towns and chief Places of note.]

The chief Towns and Places of note, are 1. _St. Jago de Esteco_, the principal Town of the Province, and a Bishop’s See, seated upon the River _Esteco_, a hundred and fourscore Leagues distant from _Buenos Ayres_.

2. _St. Michael de Tucuman_, seated at the foot of a huge rocky Mountain, but otherwise in a Soil the fruitfullest and best, both for Corn and Pasturage, in all this Countrey, twenty eight Leagues distant from _St. Jago_.

3. _Talavera_, or _Nuestra Sennora de Talavera_, as the _Spaniards_ call it, situate upon the Banks of _Salado_, in a good Soil, and inhabited by an industrious People, grown exceeding rich and wealthy, chiefly by their Manufactures of Cotton-Wooll, whereof they have great plenty, and by which they drive a Trade as far as the Mines at _Potosi_, and other parts of _Peru_.

4. _Corduba_, another rich Town of this Province, and of great Trade, as lying at an equal distance, _viz._ of fifty Leagues, both From _San Fe_, as they call it, or _St. Faiths_ in the Province of _La Plata_ abovesaid, and from _St. Juan de la Frontera_ in the Country of _Chile_, and almost in the Road-way from _Potosi_ and those parts of _Peru_, to _Buenos Ayres_ and the North Sea.

5. _Chocinoca_; 6. _Sococha_; 7. _Calebinda_; 8. _Morata_, and others, but belonging for the most part to the reduced Natives.

SECT. IV.
La Crux de Sierra.

[Sidenote: Situation of _La Crux de Sierra_.]

_La Crux de Sierra_ is a little Territory (at least in comparison to some others) lying towards _Peru_, and reckon’d by some for one of the Provinces of _Peru_: It lieth betwixt the two great Rivers _Paraguay_ and _Guapay_, a hundred Leagues distant, as ’tis said, from _Charcas_, to which yet in some Causes it is subordinate.

The Soil of this Countrey is abundantly fertile in all sorts of _American_ Fruits, besides good plenty both of Wheat and _Maiz_, and scarsity of nothing useful for Man’s Life, unless it be fresh Water in some places.

[Sidenote: Chief Towns of this Province.]

The chief Towns of this Province, are 1. _San Crux_, situate at the foot of a great Mountain or Hill, but opening upon a large Plain, whose thirsty driness is well refresh’d by a certain Brook or Torrent, which issueth out of a neighboring Mountain, and a few Leagues distant from the Town maketh a pretty Lake, which supplieth the Countrey thereabouts, both with fresh Water and Fish in good plenty.

2. _Barranea_, a Town suppos’d to be not above threescore Leagues distant from _Potosi_.

3. _Nova Rioia_, once a Colony of _Spaniards_, but sack’d and spoil’d by the Salvages of these Parts about the Year 1548. and the first Discoverer of the Countrey, namely _Nunno de Chaves_, treacherously murder’d by a Native, since which time ’tis said to have been deserted.

CHAP. VII.
Brasile.

[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Brasile_.]

[Sidenote: _Pedro Alvarez Capralis_ his Expedition to _Brasile_.]

_Brasile_ by _Capralis_ call’d _San Cruz_, because it was discover’d on the Day dedicated to the holy Cross, but generally _Brasile_, from the red Wood, which it produces in great abundance, extends, according to the Account of the _Portuguese_, between the Rivers _Maranon_ and _De la Plata_: But according to the Division which Pope _Alexander_ the Sixth made upon the Approbation of the Kings of _Castile_ and _Portuguese_, _Brasile_ extends not so far; for it begins in the North along the Stream _Para_, and ends at the River _Capybora_, two Leagues beyond the Town _St. Vincent_: Eastward it is wash’d by the Northern Ocean, and on the West separated from _Peru_ by desolate Mountains: It lies between 4 and 22 Degrees of Southern Latitude. Historiographers differ much concerning the first Discoverer; but without contradiction the first honor belongs justly to _Americus Vesputius_, who being sent out by _Ferdinand_, King of _Castile_, in the Year 1497. arriv’d first with four Sail at _Brasile_; whither he was follow’d two years after by _Vincent Aynez Pinzon_, Associate to _Christopher Columbus_; but with ill success, for two of the Ships were cast away in a Storm, and the other two return’d sadly weather-beaten into the _Spanish_ Haven _Palos_, yet not before he had made a farther Discovery of _Brasile_ than _Americus Vesputius_; which so stirr’d up _Emanuel_, King of _Portugal_, that he sent _Pedro Alvarez Capralis_ thither with five hundred Men in thirteen Ships, that so he might get sure footing on _Brasile_; where Landing he erected a Stone Cross, and inform’d the King of his whole Proceedings by _Gasper Lemnius_, with whom he sent over two _Brasilians_, a Man a Woman, the strangeness of whose Garb caus’d great admiration in _Portugal_ amongst the Spectators: the Man, having a flat Nose, went stark naked, and in his nether Lip hung a Stone call’d _Matara_; through each Check there was stuck a piece of _Brasile_ Wood, on his Shoulders he carry’d three long Darts, and on his Head he wore divers colour’d Feathers; the Hair about his Privities was all pluckt out, and his _Membrum Virile_ ty’d about with a String call’d _Tacoaynhaa_, which he unty’d when he Urin’d; his Body was strong and well proportion’d, and painted with several Colours. The Woman wore a Lappet girt about her Middle, in which Girdle stuck a Cane Tobacco-pipe; the Lappet reach’d just to the top of her Knees, the rest of her Body was also naked; on her Head she wore a broad Hat made of Feathers, on the top of which stuck two Plumes; in her Ears hung Bells, and about her Neck three Strings of Pearl; and her Body was also painted with red and yellow Colours. _Lemnius_ also gave so much Information concerning the fruitfulness of _Brasile_, that several _Portuguese_ Families went thither, accompanied with some _Italian_ Fryers, which scattering up and down, began to build several Villages, but were soon after most of them kill’d and eaten up by the _Indians_.

_Anno 1549._ King _John_ the Third fitted out a great Fleet, which set Sail from _Lisbon_ under the Command of _Thomas de Sosa_.

[Sidenote: _Jesuits_ sent to _Brasile_ by Pope _Paulus_ the Third and
_Ignatius_.]

Also the Jesuits _Aspilcueta_, _Antonio Pireo_, _Leonardo Nonno_, _Didaco Jacobo_, _Vincent Roderico_, and _Emanuel Robrega_, were sent thither by Pope _Paulus_ the Third, and _Ignatius Loyola_, whose Fleet came to an Anchor in the Bay afterwards call’d _Bahia de Todos Sanctos_, where _Sosa_ built the City _Salvador_; since which the _Portuguese_ have spread themselves farther and farther over _Brasile_.

[Sidenote: Temperature of the Climate.]

The _United Netherlands_ also sent Colonies thither with good success, for they took several vast Countreys from the _Portuguese_, by force of Arms, and built new Forts and Towns in several places. But we will first give you a general Description of it, that so we may the better render a Relation in particular of every Province thereof, it being a considerable part of the _New World_, and both pleasant and fruitful, and the Sea-Coasts refresh’d by Easterly Winds, which begin before Day-break, when the North Sea ebbs or flows, for then the Wind rises with the Sun, and continues till Mid-night: Towards the West, where the Mountains divide _Brasile_ from _Peru_, it is made temperate by Westerly Winds, which though judg’d unwholsom, because they seem to arise out of the Moorish Grounds, yet they hurt not the Inhabitants along that Coast, because they either break against the high Mountains, or are driven by the strong Wind which blows from the Sea.

The difference between Summer and Winter, shorter and longer Days, in the main part of _Brasile_, is scarce discernable, warm Weather lasting all the year round; and for the length of the Day and Night, the Sun being hid under the Horizon twelve hours, shines for the most part just as long, the greatest difference never being above an hour. Three hours before Day-break the Dew makes it exceeding cold till Sun-rising; wherefore the _Brasilians_ make Fires in the Night near their Hammocks, not onely to keep wild Beasts from them, but also against the Cold. After the coldest Nights follow the fairest Days, and the contrary after sultry Nights; nevertheless (except in the rainy Season, which begins with _March_ and ends about _August_) the Skye is generally clear, yet it Lightens much towards the Evening. Rainbowes often appear in the Skye, and bout the Moon _Halos_. The Rain generally falls in great Drops, and with a mighty noise; before which it is generally very sultry hot, or else soon after. The Dew, which is fruitfuller than in _Europe_, is saltish, which makes it oft to rot things that lie in the open Air. During the rainy Moneths, a South-East Winds blows from a cloudy Skye, much stronger than the Northern in Summer. The South-East Wind drives the Stream to the North, as the North Wind drives it to the South: And more than this, there is little to be discern’d of the Seas ebbing and flowing hereabouts: At the highest Tides the _Brasilians_ go several Leagues from the Shore to Fish, upon Planks made of the spungy Wood call’d _Jangada_ fastned together. The Sea, which seems to burn in the Night, is so clear in the Day, that the Fish may be seen to swim above twenty Fathom deep. A calm Ocean when the Days and Nights are of an exact length, and especially when dark Clouds appear, is a certain sign of a dreadful Storm. At Full or New-Moon the Sea rises twelve Foot, and continues either a longer or shorter time, according as it is more or less turbulent, and the Rivers fall stronger or more gently into the same.

Before most part of the Coast of _Brasile_ lies a Stone Cliff of above twenty or thirty Paces broad, which is never cover’d with Water, though in the time of Spring-floods. In this Cliff Nature in several places hath made a Gap, through which the Ships sail near the Shore, and ride safe at an Anchor.

The whole Countrey of _Brasile_ is divided into thirteen _Præfectures_, or Lordships, and hath about as many Rivers, which more or less empty themselves into every one of these Countreys. The Eastern part hath several Brooks and Fountains, which afford good Water both for Man and Beast. In some parts the Water is so strong, that the wild Beasts making themselves Drunk therewith, are easily taken. During the Winter Season the Rivers glide with great force, and swell on a sudden, overflowing all the neighboring Countrey, onely the River _San Francisco_ runs strongest and rises highest in the Summer Season, whenas in the Winter it flows low, and poures but little Water into the Ocean. The original of this River is as yet unknown, yet is by most believ’d to come out of a great Lake lying near the _Peruvian_ Mountains: The _Hollanders_, who sail’d forty Leagues up the same, found it every where broad and deep, and scatter’d full of Isles and Rocks. The _Portuguese_ sailing ten Leagues farther, discover’d the great Rocks _Cocoeras_, from which the said River falls down with great violence, and extends it self North-West. In the other _Brasilian_ Streams, though wide at the Mouthes, which generally are not above two or three hours walking from their Fountains or Springs, no Barque is able to Row up, they being exceeding shallow, although much Rain falls into them; the reason whereof is because the barren Mountains lying between _Brasile_ and _Peru_, discharge abundance of Water through the Rivers of _Amazones_, _Maranon_, _Francisco_, _La Plata_, and the _Juaeiro_, with such force into the Ocean, that they keep their sweetness for thirty Leagues. Near the Sea side are several Lakes and Pits which are drinkable, and others up in the Countrey that are brackish.

[Sidenote: The Nature of the Soil.]

The Countrey differs exceedingly, for where it extends in Plains the Soil is fat and clayie, and produces all sorts of Fruit, but especially Sugar-Canes. During the rainy Seasons the Trees flourish most; after which the heat of the Sun, and fertility of the Soil speedily ripen the Fruit: wherefore they Dung not their Land, but on the contrary endeavor to make it lean with Sand, that the Plants might not have too many Leaves, and wither before the Fruit can be ripened. They Sowe in the beginning of the rainy Moneths, and especially take care that the Seed lie not too deep in the Ground, because then the Sun-beams being not able to come at it, suffer it to perish in the cold Ground.

The high _Cocoa_ and _Palmito_-Trees, are transplanted all the year round, the Roots being onely cover’d with a little Earth, because they can endure no cold.

Several Trees here bear a cooling Fruit, as if kind Nature took care to provide against excessive heat.

[Sidenote: Description of the _Tamanda_.]

All manner of Plants and Herbs brought hither from _Angola_, _Portugal_, the _Netherlands_, and the _East-Indies_, grow here very plentifully. But the Countrey generally would be much better, if some way could be found out to destroy the innumerable company of Pismires, which though three times bigger than the _European_, resemble them very much, and cover the Paths in Woods and Fields for three or four Miles together; and raising Hillocks, make them hollow, and fill them with Corn: in the Full of the Moon they gather an incredible quantity of Grain, which they bite at each end, because it should not sprout: against the rainy Moneths they stop up their Holes, that the Water may not damnifie their Store. But these Animals have a mortal Enemy of the _Tamanda_, of which there are two sorts, the bigger call’d _Guaca_; the lesser _Miri_; the _Guaca_, notwithstanding it is no bigger than an ordinary Dog, yet it destroys Tygers, and other wild Beasts, with such a raging fury, that it never lets go what once it hath got hold of, but holds it fast so long till sometimes it dies of Hunger. The _Guaca_ differing from the _Miri_ onely in bigness, hath a broad Tail full of grey and black Bristles, which sticks up when he is vex’d, but when he goes to sleep, covers himself with the same. The _Miri_ winds his long smooth Tail about the Boughs, by which hanging he searches the Holes in the Trees with his Tongue, which being thin and round, hath a Gutter in the middle, in which when it feels any Pismires, it suddenly swallows them down: If he perceives them to have their Nests under Ground, then he scratches up the Earth, and puts his Tongue in at the Holes. Both the _Guaca_ and _Miri_ have a thick Skin, and a broad black Streak from their Breasts on each side up half way their Bodies, and through the black runs also a white Streak. No Beast in the World is hardier than this, for though it fasts twelve days, and is afterwards flay’d alive, yet it will live several hours after.

[Sidenote: The Plant _Manyle_.]

[Sidenote: Description of the Tree _Ibriptanga_.]

[Sidenote: The Tree _Tatai-iba_.]

The Lakes in _Brasile_ are for the most part overgrown with Weeds just like a Field, yet are exceeding full of Fish and Fowl. Where the Sea runs into the Lakes, great multitudes of Crabs are seen crawling along the Ground, and the Oysters hang in Clusters on the Boughs of a Plant call’d _Manyle_ or _Mangues_, which grow with their Roots either near or in the Water, in such a manner, that new Bodies still shoot from the old Roots, which prevents easie access to the chief Plant, on whose uppermost Leaves after Sun-rising sticks very white Salt, which in the Night, or in a cloudy Day turns to a brackish Dew. Moreover, those places where _Brasile_ rises with Hills and Mountains, are likewise very fruitful, except the barren tops of some, which seem to kiss the Skyes; and though the fruitful Mountains flourish in the time of the rainy Months, yet many of the Trees which grow on them die in Summer, and their Ashes being burnt by the Inhabitants, are us’d in stead of Dung. Some Woods extend themselves three hundred Leagues in length, and are full of Trees, so tall, that an Arrow shot upwards falls short of the top of them, and a Boat may be made out of the Body, which can carry a hundred and fifty Men. On the great Boughs of these mighty Trees grow other excrescent Shrubs after the manner of Misseltoe, which proceed from the Kernels swallow’d and muted upon them by the Birds that light there. In some places also grow also Sweet-wood Trees, which afford either excellent Gums or Wood to Dye with; amongst which the chief is the _Ibiripitanga_, which yields the _Brasile_ Wood, that gives Denomination of _Brasile_ to this vast Tract of Land. The Tree _Ibripitanga_ is tall and spreading, hath sad colour’d Bark full of short Thorns; the Leaves are green, and differ in form but little from the Box-Tree Leaf; the Boughs shoot forth other lesser, full of yellow and sweet-smelling Flowers, which falling off are succeeded by a flat long Cod, of a dark grey colour, full of little red Pulse; the upper part of the Tree is not good to Dye with, but onely the lower part of the Body, which because the Tree grows far up in the Countrey, is not transportable without much trouble. But the _Tatai-iba_ grows in the Woods along the Shore; the Bark being of an Ash-colour, invests a yellow Wood; the Leaves are sharp and notch’d, the Fruit not unlike Mulberries, pale, juicy, and full of white Seed; the Wood boyl’d Dyes a pure Yellow. It is observable not onely of this Tree, but generally of the Trees of this Countrey, that they neither flourish, nor shed their Leaves all over at once, nor do several Trees of the same kind, and growing here germinate or fade together; for whilest one is fullest of Blossoms, the other is without Leaves; and whilest the same Tree sheds its Leaves on one side, the other side is newly Budded.

The _European_ Plants and Herbs with soft Roots, being once Planted in _Brasile_, come to be hard and lignifi’d. There is also great difference, according to the Ground in which they are Planted; for such Plants and Trees as in the Plains are but small and tender, grow ten times higher if Planted in the Woods.

All sorts of _Indian_ Pulse grow higher than the tallest Trees, like high Arbors, under which both Men and Beasts may shelter themselves from the Sun or Rain.

We find not upon Record or Tradition, that _Brasile_ was ever troubled with an Earthquake, which is the reason that it hath neither Silver nor Gold-Mines, because sulphurous Fires are found under Ground, which are a cause of the production of Gold and Silver, so likewise they occasion Earthquakes: yet in that part of _Brasile_ call’d _Ceara_, there are some Mines of Silver, out of which the _Hollanders_ would have got greater Riches, had not they been employ’d in the Wars against the _Portuguese_.

Far up into the Countrey amongst the Mountains, inhabit _Canibals_, or Man-eaters. The _Europeans_ that first travell’d that way, found the Countrey very fertile and full of People, especially in the Valleys, but somewhat incommoded by the want of Water, and the excessiveness of the Heat in the Day, and of the Cold in the Night. In some places the Countrey is so over-grown with Brambles, that they are forc’d to cut their way through the same. But there are a sort of Thistles, which having concave Leaves, receive the Dew and Rain for the accommodation of the Natives.

Besides Serpents and Dragons, the Tygers are most of all to be fear’d when hungry, but once satisfi’d are easily taken.

Dogs, Oxen, Sheep, and Horses thrive also exceedingly in most parts of _Brasile_.

[Sidenote: The Nature of the _Brasilians_.]

The _Brasilians_ live to be very old without being Bald or Grey: There are seldom or never to be seen squint-ey’d, lame, decrepid, or any deformed People, notwithstanding the Children are never Swath’d but thrown into cold Water as soon as born. The Men generally have a very near resemblance one with another, as also the Women, so that there is not such a difference betwixt Man and Man there, as amongst other People. There is scarce any Sickness heard of in these Parts; for besides a long Life, they enjoy the benefit of Health so long as they live. They trouble not themselves with much Business; and in one Hut, whose Covering consists of Palm-Leaves, dwell several Families together.

[Sidenote: Their manner of Living.]

[Sidenote: Their several sorts of Drinks.]

The general Bread of the _Brasilians_ is the stamp’d Root _Mandihoka_; besides which they also eat all manner of Fruit and Plants, and many times Flesh, which they either eat boyl’d, broyl’d, or stew’d; their Boyling is after this manner: First they kindle their fire with two Sticks, the one of hard, and the other of soft Wood; the hard they make sharp at the end, and fix the same into the soft, which setting on fire they immediately lay Cotton thereupon, or else dry Leaves, and so boyl the Flesh in round Earthen Pots call’d _Camu_: but they account that better which is stew’d in a Pot, the bottom whereof is cover’d with Leaves, on which they lay the Flesh, then stopping the same close on the top with Earth and Leaves, they make Fire over it so long till they think the Flesh to be sufficiently stew’d. Their Broyling they perform by fixing forked Sticks into the Ground, over which they lay several others like a Gridiron; and upon them the raw Flesh, cut in long Slices, and Pepper’d and Salted, then make a Fire under the same till it is enough; and their Meat so dress’d keeps good fourteen days. Their Fish either boyl’d or broyl’d is eaten with the Sawce _Juquitinga_. The little Fish _Piaba_ and _Piquitinga_ they make up in Rolls, and lay them under hot Ashes. Both with their Flesh and Fish they eat for Bread, as hath been said, the Meal of the Root _Mandihoka_, which they taking up with three Fingers throw into their Mouthes so dexterously, that not the least scrap falls besides. They never observe any set hours to eat, for they make several Meals in the Day, and sometimes in the middle of the Night, if their Appetite serves, and neither drink nor speak whilest they are at their Meat. They sleep in spread Hammocks made fast between two Poles, near which burns a constant Fire with which in the Day-time they dress their Meat, and at Night keep themselves warm, the Nights being there somewhat cold, because of their equal length with the Days. Their usual Liquor is cold Water, taken out of the Fountains, Rivers, or Brooks; but to Carouse they make the Drink _Caoi_, of the Fruit of the _Ocaiiba_-Tree, which being stamp’d in a woodden Mortar, is strain’d, and at first looks like Milk, but after a few days standing turns to a darker colour, and is strong enough to make Astronomers of those that drink largely of it, but if long kept, it turns to be excellent Vinegar.

They have another Drink call’d _Aipu_, which is made two several ways; the first is thus: An old Toothless Woman chews the little cut Root _Aipimacaxera_ to a Pap call’d _Caracu_, which spitting in a Pot they pour Water on the same, and afterwards boyling it leisurely, stirring it all the time it stands over the Fire. The other way of making this _Aipu_, which is much the more cleanly, is to boyl the said Root so long, till it comes to be like Butter-milk, and then letting it stand till it hath done working, it will be no unpleasant Drink.

Another sort of Drink amongst them is their _Pacobi_, made of the Fruit of the Tree _Pacobehe_ and _Pacobucu_; besides others made of the Tree _Abatu_, of _Indian_ Barley and _Maiz_. Also their Liquor call’d _Jetici_ is press’d out of _Potato_-Roots.

In like manner the Plant _Nana_, by the _Portuguese_ call’d _Ananas_, makes the Drink _Nanai_, which is exceeding strong and heady, but good against Faintness, Vomiting, Gravel, and stoppage of Urine, as also against Poyson.

[Sidenote: Their Deboches.]

The _Tapuiyans_, sur-named _Cariri_, meet at a certain time to make the Liquor _Aipu_, whereof each takes as much to his Hut as falls to his share, and when it hath done working, they begin in the Morning very early at the first House in the Village, and drink out every drop which they find there, and so from House to House till they have drunk one another drie; and he is look’d upon to be the best Man that hath drunk and evacuated most.

[Sidenote: Their manner of Taking Tobacco.]

The _Brasilians_ take generally very strong Tobacco, which they first drie in the Sun, and afterwards before the Fire, the better to rub it in pieces: Their Tobacco-pipe is a Cane and a hollow Nut cut off at the top, and a round Hole bor’d in the middle, into which they put the Cane. They forbear not to take Tobacco even in the midst of their religious Ceremonies, which are perform’d with Singing and Dancing in this manner:

[Sidenote: Their religious Ceremonies.]

The _Tapuiyans_ making a round Ring at an equal distance one from another, all of them being stark naked, tie divers colour’d Plumes of Feathers on their back-sides with a String made fast on their left Shoulders and about their Wastes; about their Legs they have Cotton Garters; each in his turn bowing to the Left, stretches down his left Hand to the Ground, and puts his right Hand in between the Strings which tie the Plume of Feathers, and stamps continually with his right Foot, whilest all the rest begin to Sing a doleful Song, which by degrees they change into a merry one, not without some appearance of understanding the Art of Musick. Their Songs contain first a mournful Relation of a general Deluge, which drowned their Predecessors, all but some few, who escap’d by climbing up high Trees and Mountains; next the Acts of those old Heroes from whom they boast themselves Extracted, who lost their Lives, or valiantly fought for the publick good, and were rewarded with the enjoyment of all pleasures and Delights, of Singing, Playing, Dancing, and the like, in a remote Countrey, whither after their Deaths they hope to be translated: Whilest they thus Sing over all their Songs, three Priests stand in the middle of the Ring, each holding the Idol _Maraka_ (in their left Hand) resembling an old Ostritch’s Egg stuck full of Feathers on the top: about their Wastes they wear a Girdle of rich Plumes, on their Heads also a Crown of Feathers; the middle Priest looks with a stern Countenance, and holds up his left Leg from the Ground, whilest the other two standing on each side of him, hold in their right Hands a Pipe, out of which blowing Tobacco-smoak in one anothers Faces, they utter these words, _Receive the Spirit of heroick Strength_: The Dance ended, they Entertain their Priests with Meat and Drink eight days together, and also put Meat before their Idol _Maraka_, who is the chief Deity they adore.

[Sidenote: Their Arms.]

Their Arms consist of Bowes made of hard Wood, Strung with twisted Cotton Thred; their Arrows they make of the Cane _Tacaara_, made very sharp at the end, or headed with some Beasts sharp Tooth, or pointed with the Bones of the Fish _Iperu_. Some of the _Tapuiyans_ use great Darts, and long Clubs of black Wood, broad before, and full of sharp Spikes; the Handles being wound about with Cotton Strings call’d _Jatirana_, under which hangs a Tuft of the Bird _Arara_’s Feathers, as also about the middle. Their Trumpets, call’d _Canguenca_, are the Shin-bones of Men, though they have others also made of great Shells and Canes. They us’d to be continually at War one with another, which they wag’d neither for Lands nor Riches, but either to make themselves eminent, and to be accounted valiant Soldiers, or most especially for the sake of Man’s-flesh to feed upon, which they love beyond all things in the World, wherefore they fatten all their Prisoners for the slaughter. Their Battels are always cruel, for they fight very desperately. _Emanuel de Moraes_ relates, That he saw a _Brasilian_ fight with three Armed _Portugueses_, who slew him not till after he had wounded them all three.

[Sidenote: The Languages of the _Brasilians_.]

The Languages of the _Brasilians_ are several, each Countrey speaking a peculiar Tongue, but so different that they cannot understand one another. The _Tabuyans_ are divided into above eighty Tribes, each speaking a peculiar Language, which have no resemblance one with another; nevertheless they have a general Language which is understood by most of them. The Jesuit _Joseph Anchieta_ publishing a _Brasilian_ Dictionary in _Conimbrica_, _Anno 1595._ shewed that the fore-mention’d Language wants the Letters _f_, _l_, _s_, _z_, _r_, and hath no double Consonants in any word, except _mb_, _nd_, _ng_, so that the sound of the word falls generally on the last Vowel. The fore-mention’d _Moraes_ well experienc’d in the _Brasilian_ Tongue, writ an Alphabet of all the most familiar words thereof us’d in common Discourse, of which it will not be unnecessary to give this following Extract:

A.

_Aba_, a Man, _also_ Hair. _Acu_, the Left-hand. _Acuabeimae_, Sweet. _Amaberaba_, Lightning. _Amacuminga_, Thunder. _Amandiba_, Hail. _Anama_, a near Relation. _Anga_, the Soul. _Angabara_, Lean. _Angaipata_, Angry, _or_ Wicked. _Angaturama_, Thankful, _or_ Acceptable. _Apara_, a Crown. _Apecum_, the Tongue. _Apicaba_, a Stool. _Ara_, the Time, Skye, _or_ Day. _Ara-ibi coquime_, Noon. _Araya_, Grandmother. _Atapuana_, Light. _Atapuatia_, Swift. _Atucupe_, the Back. _Atyba_, the Shoulder. _Ay cig_, a Mother. _Ayura_, the Neck.

B.

_Boya_, a Slave.

C.

_Cama_, a Sucking-Breast. _Canga_, a Leg. _Caraibebe_, _apiabebe_, an Angle. _Caruca_, the Evening. _Capii_, Grass. _Capii goacu_, Straw. _Catu_, Dainty. _Cay_, an Ape. _Ceba_, a Loaf. _Cibera_, the Buttocks. _Cemiracoaobae_, a Widower. _Ceo_, a Breast. _Ceteeimibae_, a Ghost. _Cig cygra_, an Aunt. _Coaraci_, a Son. _Cobra_, a Serpent. _Coemitanga_, the Dawn. _Coriba_, Rejoyce. _Coya_, Twins. _Cunha_, a Wife. _Cunhaiba_, a Bride. _Cunumigoacu_, a Youth. _Cunumi_, a Boy.

E.

_Ecatuaba_, the right Hand. _Eyruba_, a Bee.

G.

_Giba_, an Arm. _Guaibino_, an old Woman. _Guirarupia_, an Egg.

I.

_Jaci_, the Moon, _or_ Month. _Jacitata_, a Star. _Iba_, a Tree. _Ibiaia_, the Heavens. _Ibatinga_ and _Ibitinga_, a Witch. _Ibateba_, High. _Ibi_, the Earth. _Ibitira_, a Mountain. _Ibitu_, the Wind. _Icapi_, the Dew. _Ig_, Water. _Iguaba_, a Cap. _Ipeca_, a Goose. _Igue_, the Side. _Ita_, Iron, _or_ a Stone. _Itacira_, a Spade. _Itapigua_, a Nail. _Juba_, Yellow.