48 TIMEHRI. 
with the greatest agility. The Caraibs have two sorts 
of houses, one serving them for the night, the roof 
whereof being built tent fashion, comes near to the 
ground; the other which they occupy during the day is 
higher, and much wider, raised in shape of a wall, but 
open on all sides and covered only with leaves. 
Their furniture consists of hammocks, barbecot, 
painted pots, pagales, tools and arms. They have 
neither chairs or benches, as they always sit on their 
heels, some have however a sort of wooden chair, called 
by them MMJoulé, which is made use of when paying 
visits, it looks like a bench without arms, not of the 
easiest, for it is something in the shape of a canoe, 
and so hollow in the centre that you sink in it up to 
your middle, and the knees touch the chair. 
As regards their institutions they are totally ignorant 
of any Government or Policy, each living as he likes 
best, so that there exists no distinction of rank or 
quality amongst them. 
They have a Captain who commands only when at 
war, but has not a word to say on civil matters, Al- 
though unacquainted with laws, manslaughter very 
seldom takes place, they live peaceably together, and 
when it happens that an Indian kills another, he is 
freed, by giving to the widow or children, a male or 
female slave, should the manslaughter not be revenged 
by his friends ; for which reasons the Governors in our 
Colonies always endeavour to unite and reconcile the 
relations. Amongst some of these natives like the 
Caraibs, who are very jealous, adultery is punished 
publicly in the presence of their people, by the death of 
both criminals; with others, the husband kills the wife 
