

3" 





Their man- 

 ner of Con- 

 fulling with 

 tb«r Ztmes. 



Goflippfng. 



Manner of 

 Succefiion. 



Languages. 



An Example 

 of the Baint- 

 j$h Language. 



<J[ M E <KI C A. Chap. XIII. 



difplcas'd with him, becaufe he did not build a Houfe for him, or confecrate a 

 Garden to him, or in fomc refpedt or other did not worfhip him as he ought to 

 have done. When the Soul departs out of the Body, they conjure the Body with 

 many Adjurations, to reveal whether ic died according to God's decree, or through 

 neglect of the Bwfi, as not having fan&ifi'd himfclf enough by Fading when he 

 went firft to the Sick, or not prefcrib'd fufficient Medicines : wherefore if (as they 

 fay) the Devil anfwers them from the Mouth of the Deceafed, that the Boit't did 

 not perform his due Office, then the neareft Friends revenge themfelves on the SoiVi, 

 butifothcrwifc, then they arc highly efteem'd amongft them. The Women ta- 

 king the Stones which the Soifi kept in his Mouth, wrap them up in a fine Cloth 

 as a holy Relique, fuppofing that they will much facilitate their Child-birth. 



The Cafiques defirous to know future Events of War, or whether the approach- 

 ing Years will be fruitful, go into a Chappel confecrated to the Zemes, and fnuff 

 the intoxicating Herb Cohobba up their Noftrils ; whereupon they break out into 

 loud Exclamations, and fome kind of ftrange extravagant A&ions^ill the power of 

 the Cohobba begins to decay, and the Frenzieceafe ; then coming again to their Sen- 

 fes, they bow their Heads, and lay their Elbows on their Knees, in which pofturc 

 they fit for a confiderable time, then lifting up their Eyes they yawn as if they 

 they came from deep 5 then they mutter to themfelves whilcft their Retinue which 

 ftand about them (for no common Perfon isfuffer'd to be there) thank them with a 

 loud Voice, for the pains they have been at in difcourfing with the Ztmes 5 then 

 the Cafiques begin to declare what hath been reveal'd to them, W<. whether they 

 (hall be fortunate in the Wars or not 5 whether it will be a fruitful or unfruitful, 

 healthy or fickly Year. 



Moreover, at the Birth of the Caftque's Children,the neighboring Governors vifit 

 the Women in Child-bed, and every one gives the Child a peculiar Name, from 

 whence it happens that one Man hath oftentimes forty Names, and is highly in* 

 cens'd if any one of them chances to be forgot in any Writing directed to him. 



Their manner of Succeffion in Government is not unremarkable j for not the 

 eldeft Heir.male of the Family, but firft the King or Cajique's Brother, if he have 

 any, and after his Deceafe the eldeft of the Sifters Inherits the Realm or Scigniotie : 

 if the Sifters have noMale-ilTue, then the Brothers Sons Inherit 5 and in cafe they 

 have no Male«heir, then the next of Blood, whether Male or Female : but if the 

 Prince or Caftque dies without Children, Nephews, or other near Relations, the next 

 in Power in the Countrey Inherits, and Marries as many Wives as he pleafcs ; of 

 which (he that he loves beft is burn'd alive in her beft Apparel with her Husband 

 when he dies, and near the Corps ftands a Cup of Water and fome of the Bread 

 Qa^abl. 



There are feveral Languages in Hijpaniola, but differing from each other : for in 

 the Province (Samoa they have a different,both Pronunciation and Dialed from that 

 in Cai^jmu. 



In the faid Province of Cai^jmu is a very remarkable Rock, or vaft Stone to be 

 feen, at the Foot of a high Mountain 5 and underneath the faid Stone is a great 

 Cave, into which they go through a large Paffage, not unlike a Temple Door ; 

 near which conjoyn many deep Rivers, with fuch a Noife and Foam, that they 

 lofe both their Sight and Hearing, whoeter approach the fame. 



Of the Language of the Province Bainoa, Teter Martyr gives us this Specimen : 

 "The Wife of a Caftque (fays he) went to Prayers in a Chappel which was built by 

 tl the Spaniards • at her Return from whence her Husband defiring to enjoy her r 

 " flie refufing, faid, Teitoca, ttitoca> ttcketa Cynatoguammechma, that is to fay, Be con* 



"tented, 



