Chap. XIII. sA M E X^I C A. 321 



being turn'd into Women, were entertained by them, and brought forth a nume- 

 rous Progeny, which fpread over all Hispaniola. 



No lefs ridiculous an Account do the Priefts cive concerning the Original of Thrir u,iih 



n T 1 ! 1 • ' I a 1 ^ Opinion oi 



rhe Sea, Vi^. Th*t jaia, a mighty Man, buried the Body of his deceafed Son in a lke h °^ ,nal 

 Pumpion,which fome Moneths after, out of meer affection to the Deceafed, he cut- " 

 ting open, abundance of Whales fprungout of it. This Wonder being every where 

 known, amongft others, entie'd four Brothers born at one Birth (whofe Mother 

 died in Childbed) to get the Pumpion into their pofTeflion; which their Defign 

 prov'd fuccefsful ; but afterwards ftruck with a pannick fear of Jaia's coming thi- 

 thither (who oftentimes came to mourn over the Bones of his dead Son) they fled, 

 and threw away the Pumpion, which breaking with the fall, the Sea gufh'd out of 

 all places thereof, and covered the Plains in luch a manner, that nothing of them 

 was feen, onely the tops of the higheft Mountains appear'd . at which the four 

 Brothers terribly afrightcd, rang'd through barren Defarts, in which they had died 

 of Hunger, had they not come to a Baker's Houfe, which one of them entring, 

 ask'dfor Qa^abi ; but the Baker denying them Bread, fpit on them, which caus'd 

 a mortal Dropfie, which the Brothers upon confultatiqn! found rio way to cure, 

 but by cutting a hole in the Skin with a fliarp Stone, and to let out the Water . 

 but out of each running Wound fprung a Woman, who bare them four Sons and 

 four Daughters. 



There is a certain Cave call'd JoVana-beina, which is adorn'd with a thoufand T kc«e 

 Pictures, id great efteem amongft them; at the Entrance on each fide whereof ***** 

 {lands a Zemes ; that on the right fide is call'd $mthaiteUes> the other Marohur, to 

 which they come from all places to pay their Devotions, becaufe (they fay) the 

 Sun and Moon came out of the faid Cave to lighten the World. 



Much after the fame abfurd rate is their Opinion of the Deceafed 5 for they fup- Thcir abfurd 

 pofe that they range through Woods and Forrefts in the Night, eat of a Fruit call'd thcBcceale4 

 Guannaba, and fteal to the Embraces of Women in Moon-flbiny Nights. A Tra- 

 veller,fay they, if he be frighted at the appearance of a deceafed Perfon, great in- 

 conveniences will certainly attend him, but if he goes ftoutly towards it, then the 

 Goblin vanifhes. 



Thefe Delufions are made great Myftcries amongft them, and contain'd in 

 Songs, which their Priefts <Boiti Sing to a kind of Tabor made of a piece of hollow 

 Wood, pretending that they have familiar Converfation with the Zemes concern- 

 ing future things. 



Their Ceremonies about their fick, efpecially if Perfons of Quality, are like- Thdrcew- 



' r til ill -i /*« * ^^ monies about 



wile very remarkably odd and conceited : Firft they chew a ftrong kind of Herb, *«** 

 call'd (ohobba, with which having fufficiently intoxicated their Brains, they foam at 

 the Mouth, and run with a Stone and a piece of Fleflrin their Mouths to the fick 

 Perfon, whofe Family they drive all out of Doors, except one or two, whofe pre- 

 fence the Patient requires - then the Boiti walks four times about the fick Perfon's 

 Bed, making ftrange Geftures, pinching his Lips and Nofc, blowing upon his 

 Forehead, Throat and Temples, and fucking feverai parts of his Body, alledging, 

 that thereby he draws the Diftemper out of the Veins j after that he chafes and 

 rubs his Shoulders, Thighs and Legs, and ties his Hands and Feet together, then 

 running to the Door, proclaims, That the Sick in a fhort time fliall be reftor'd to 

 his former Health ; which laid, he returns with his Arms ftretch'd out towards 

 the fick Perfon, takes the piece of Flefli out of his Mouth, which he gives him 

 backwards, faying, You Jhall rife and go forth in Health, for I have taken away your Sicknefs : 

 But if he judges the Diftemper not curable, he makes the Sick believe, that Zmes is 



x I i difpleas'd 



<i 



1 



