Hiftorie ofihef nates, lib. 6. 



Even To they gavefevere punifhments to fuch as were 

 difobedicnt and offenders . They .punifhed murther, 

 theft, and adultery, with death , and fuch as commit 

 ted inceft with afceridants or defendants in dire<5l 

 line, were likewife puniflicd with death. But they held 

 it no adultery to have many wives or concubines, ney- 

 ther were the women fiibieil to the puniHimtnt of 

 death, being found with any other, but oncly (lie that 

 was the true and lawfull wife , withvvhome they con- 

 traded marriage ; for they had but one whome they 

 did wed and receive with a particular folempnitieanct 

 ceremony,which was in this maner: the bridegroome 

 went to the brides houfe,and led her from thence with '" "^ * 

 him, having fiiit put an Otioya vppon her foote . They 

 call the fhooc which they vfe in thofe partes Qttojd> be 

 ing open like to the Francifcan Friars. If the bride were 

 a tmyde, her ottoja was of wooll, but if fhe were not,it 

 was of reedes . All his other wives and concubines did 

 honour and ferve this as the lawfull wife, who aloae af 

 ter the deceafe of her husband caried a mourning weed 

 of blacke, for the fpace of a yeare-neithcr did (he marry 

 vntill that time were paft-and commonly (lie was yon- 

 gcr than her husband.! \\zlngtM himiclfc with his own 

 hand gave this womar* to his Governor^ and captains: 

 and the Governors or Caciques ^ aflemblcd all the yong- 

 tnen and maydes,in one place of the Citty,wh ere they 

 gave to every one his wife with the aforciaidc ceremo 

 ny , in putting on the ottoy* > and in this manner they 

 contracted thcii' marriages . If this w -;>man were found 

 with any other than her husband , flieewaspunijhed 

 with death, and the adulterer likewikr ,: and although 

 the husband pardoned them, yet were they puniiljed, 

 although difpenfed withall from death. They infli<5ied 



Hh 4 the 



