A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1572. 



next day in the morning we passed over the river in a 

 canoa; and being on the other side, I went my selfe 

 before alone : and by reason there met many wayes traled 

 by the wilde beasts, I lost my way, and so travelled 

 thorow a great wood about two leagues : and at length 



[III. 460.] fell into the hands of certaine wilde Indians, which were 

 there in certaine cottages made of straw ; who seeing me, 

 came out to the number of twenty of them, with their 

 bowes and arrowes, and spake unto mee in their language, 

 which I understood not : and so I made signes unto 

 them to helpe mee from my horse ; which they did by 

 commandement of their lord, which was there with them ; 

 and lighted downe. They caried me under one of their 

 cottages, and layed me upon a mat on the ground : and 

 perceiving that I could not understand them, they 

 brought unto mee a little Indian wench of Mexico, of 

 fifteene or sixteene yeeres of age, whom they commanded 

 to aske me in her language from whence I came, and for 

 what intent I was come among them : for (sayth she) 

 doest thou not know Christian, how that these people 

 will kill and eat thee ? To whom I answered, let them 

 doe with me what they will ; heere now I am. Shee 

 replied, saying, thou mayest thanke God thou art leane ; 

 for they feare thou hast the pocks : otherwise they would 

 eate thee. So I presented to the king a little wine which 

 I had with me in a bottle ; which he esteemed above 

 any treasure : for for wine they will sell their wives and 

 children. Afterwards the wench asked me what I would 

 have, and whether I would eat any thing. I answered 

 that I desired a little water to drinke, for that the 

 countrey is very hote : and shee brought me a great 

 Venice glasse, gilded, full of water. And marvelling at 

 the glasse, I demanded how they came by it. She tolde 



Shallapa. me that the Casique brought it from Shallapa, a great 

 towne distant 30 leagues from this place on the hilles, 

 whereas dwelt certeine Christians, and certeine friers of 

 the Order of S. Augustine, which this Casique with his 

 people on a night slew ; and burning the friers monasterie, 



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