WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 239 



Chapter XX 



Of the Costumes and Customs of the Indians, and of the Indians 

 Who Were Converted in the Days of Dr. Alonso Criado de Castilla, 

 and of Other Facts about That Country. 



686. The Indians of these provinces have the same customs and 

 dress as those of New Spain and Yucatan, but with certain differ- 

 ences. The mountaineers wear ample trousers, undershirts, and the 

 escapapul, which serves them as a cloak ; it is a woolen blanket, which 

 they wear fastened over the left shoulder and under the right. The 

 Indians of some provinces of these tribes wear cues, as friars do 

 the tonsure. The Indians of the hot country wear tilmas — white, 

 yellow, or striped in different colors — of cotton, or of linen in some 

 cases ; these are the same as the escapapules of the highlanders, and 

 serve them as cloaks. The most important Indians wear ojotas, which 

 are a kind of sandals, for protection against stones and thorns. 



687. During the 13 years that Dr. Criado de Castilla governed 

 these provinces, among other great things he accomplished through 

 his remarkable foresight and executive ability for the Christianization 

 and instruction of the Indians, was his subjugation of several provinces 

 of them and his conversion of them to the Faith. Among these were 

 part of the Province of Manche and of the Xicaque Indians of Costa 

 Rica, and the Tequeguas and Montafieses of Nicaragua. In this he 

 was greatly aided by his son Don Andres Criado de Castilla, Knight 

 of the Order of Santiago, who was Captain General of those prov- 

 inces, and is at present Gentleman of the Household (Gentilhombre 

 de la Boca) of the Infante Cardinal and Governor of Merida ; he 

 converted them more by good example and management than by 

 force of arms. 



688. The Indians are all naturally impassive, and at the same time 

 ingenious ; they learn easily whatever they see the Spaniards do, and 

 whatever handicraft exercises skill. The majority are good singers 

 and expert with all sorts of musical instruments — flageolets, flutes, 

 sackbuts, bassoons, cornets, and organs which they make out of 

 numerous reeds very cleverly and ingeniously joined together ; these 

 they use to celebrate divine service with greater solemnity. All the 

 chiefs and leading Indians enter their sons for the service of divine 

 worship, which they greatly appreciate and honor. 



689. In all Indian villages throughout the Indies, both in New 

 Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, the New Kingdom of Granada, and 

 Peru, no matter how small the villages may be, they have distinguished 

 cantors and choirmasters, who officiate with great seriousness and 



