AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1564. 



upon the Indians shouldiers : and the rest which could 

 not passe because of the myre and reedes, went through 

 the woodes, and followed a narrow path which led them 

 foorth untill they came unto the Paracoussyes dwelling ; 

 out of which there came about iiftie Indians to receive 

 our men gallantly, and to feast them after their manner. 

 After which they brought at their entrance a great vessell 

 of earth, made after a strange fashion full of fountaine 

 water cleare and very excellent. 



This vessell was borne by an Indian, and there was 

 another younger which bare of this water in another 

 little vessell of wood, and presented thereof to every 

 one to drinke, observing in doing the same, a certaine 

 order and reverence, which hee made to each of them, to 

 whome hee gave drinke. Our thirst well quenched by 

 this meanes, and our men beeing sufficiently refreshed, 

 the Paracoussy brought them to his fathers lodging, 

 one of the oldest men that lived upon the earth. Our 

 men regarding his age, began to make much of him, 

 using this speech. Amy, Amy, that is to say, friende, 

 friende, whereat the olde sier shewed himselfe very 



Afterward they questioned with him concerning the 

 course of his age : whereunto he made answere, shewing 

 that he was the first living originall, from whence five 

 generations were descended, as he shewed unto them by 

 another olde man that sate directly over against him, 

 Men of ex- which farre exceeded him in age. And this man was his 

 ceedmg olde f^^hej-^ which seemed to be rather a dead carkeis then a 

 ^ ' living body : for his sinewes, his veines, his artiers, his 



bones, and other parts, appeared so cleerely thorow his 

 skinne, that a man might easily tell them, and discerne 

 them one from another. Also his age was so great, that 

 the good man had lost his sight, and could not speake 

 one onely word but with exceeding great paine. Monsieur 

 de Ottigni having scene so strange a thing, turned to the 

 yoonger of these two olde men, praying him to vouch- 

 safe to answere him to that which he demanded touch- 



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