The ^aturalland Moral! 



In other places they make a floate of gourds or pompi 

 ons, vppon the which they fet men with their ftuffe to 

 carryover, and the Indians having cordesfaftned to 

 them, goe fwiraming before , and drawe this floate of 

 pompions after them, as horfes doe a Coach : others 

 goc'behindc thrufting it forward. Having pafled,they 

 take their barke of pompions vppon their backe , and 

 returne fwimming : this i-hey doe in the river of Saint 

 at Pm/.We pafled that of Alvantdo'm new Sfaive vpon ' 

 a table, which the Indians carried vpon their flioulders, 

 and when they loft their footing^they fwamme.Thefe 

 devifes, with a thoufand others wherewith they vfe to 

 paffe their rivers, breede a terrour in the beholders, 

 helping themfelves with fuch weake and vnfure means^ 

 and yet they are very confident., They do vfe no other 

 bridges but of haire or of ftraw . There are now vppon 

 fome rivers bridges of ftone 5 built by the diligence of 

 fome govcrnours, but many fewer then were needfull 

 in fuch a country, where fo many men are drowned by 

 default thereof, and the which yeeldes fo much filver, 

 asnotoneiytyd/>, but alfo other flrange Countries 

 make fumptnous buildings therewith. The Indians do 

 drawe from thefe floudes thatrunne from the moun- 

 taines to the vallies and plaines > many and great brooks 

 to water their land , which they vfually doe with fuch 

 induftry,as there are no better in Murcu y nor at MilUn 

 itfelfe, the which is alfo the greateft and onely wealth 

 of the Plaines of Pew, and of many other partcs of the 

 India. 



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