Ch. IX. SOUTH AMERICA. 185 



away ; and by taking it out of the water, the Balza 

 will kiff, or keep nearer to the wind. Such is the 

 rnethod ufed by the Indians in iteering the Balzas; 

 and fometimes they ufe-five or fix Guaras, to prevent 

 the Balza from making lee-way; it being evident, 

 that the more they are under water, the greater re- 

 liflance the fide of the veffel meets with ; the Guaras 

 performing the office of lee-boards, ufed in fmall 

 veflels. . The method of ñecring by thefe Guaras is 

 fo ealy and fimple, that when once the Balza is put in 

 her proper courfe, one only is made ufe of, raifing 

 or lowering it as accidents require; and thus the 

 Balza is always kept in her intended dire6lion. 



We have before obferved, that this river and its 

 creeks abound in fifh, which for feme time in the year 

 aííbrd employment for the Indians and Mulattos in- 

 habiting its banks, and for which they prepare to- 

 vvards the end of fummer, having then fown and 

 reaped the produce of their little farms. All their 

 preparatives confift in examining their Balzas, giving 

 them the neceíTary repairs, and putting up a frcih tilt 

 of vijahua leaves. This being finifhed, they take 

 on board the neceíTary quantity of lalt, harpoons, and 

 darts. With regard to their provifion, it confifts only 

 of maize, plantanes, and hung beef. Every thing 

 bein^ ready, they put on board the Balzas their 

 canoes, their families, and the little furniture they are 

 piailers of. With regard to the cattle and horfes, of 

 which every one has a few, they are driven up to 

 winter in the mountains. 



fHE Indians now freer away to the mouth of Tome 

 creek, where they expert to take a large quantity of 

 fifh, and ilay there during the whole time of the 

 fifhery, unlefs they are difappointed in their expecla-? 

 tions ; in which cafe they fteer away to another, till 

 they have taken a fufficient quantity, when they re- 

 turn to their former habitations; but not without 

 taking with them vijahua leaves^ bejucos, and canes, 



fo|: 



