Chap. XVIII. A M E%^I C A, 119 



which they believe the greateft happinefs they fllall enjoy in the other World coil- 

 fifts : But the Caribbeeans never Dance more antique than when, they meet in the 

 Carbet, which is a publickHoufe of Entertainment • whether the Women carry a 

 Drink made of Cajfave, which makes Drunk as foon as Wine : The Men bring 

 Fifli and Hedge-hogs ; all of them painted with ^oucou, and adorn'd with Plume* 

 of Feathers, commit all manner of Debaucheries. At other times they alfo keep 

 Feafl>days, which is either when they are preferr'd to fome Office, or Place of Ho- 

 nor, or when they have defeated their Enemies, or when they mourn for the Death 

 of one of their neareft Relations. 



Their Boats, which they call Teriaquo's, are made of fingle hollow Trees, full Their MM 

 of Benches, and painted with feveral ftrange Shapes,and are able each to carry fifty 



or fixty Men. 



Their Mufical Inftruments in which they take moll delight, are Drums, Strings «5JJ* % 

 of Silk-grafs ftretcht upon Calabajhes y w<& Flutes niadeof theBones of their Enemies. ^«. 



Thev keen Watches on high Hills, to defcry the Ships ofFat Sea, and no fooner Their watch- 



• " / i O ii« L fulncls a- 



have they efpy'd one, but they immediately giv* notice to one another,, whereupon gainit Enc- 

 thofe that are mod valiant put offtoSeain their Canoos, and know by the Lan- * 

 gnages to diftinguilh between a Spaniard, Fm/c/;-man, fw^/f/ft-man, and Hollander. 

 If they find that 'tis an Enemy who Lands on their Coafts, they guard all their 

 Avenues, lie in Ambufcades, and gather together in by-ways, and where they fee 

 any advantage they flboot thoufands of Arrows . which done, they fall in amongft 

 them with great Clubs : but if they chance to be defeated, then they lurk behind 

 Bramble-bullies, or climb up inacceffible Mountains, or elfe, if near the Sea, they 

 fave themfelves by Diving and Swimming under Water above two hundred Paces 

 before they appear again . and if a Party of them chance to meet together after- 

 wards, they venture a fecond Engagement : But if thofe that come on their Coafts Their Enter- 

 are Friends, they Swim, or go in their Boats to meet them, climb up their Ships, Fr*ad . 

 and carry the Sea-men on their Shoulders afliore, where the Qafaue in the Name of 

 the whole Ifland bids them welcome, and condu&s them to the Carbet, where an 

 antientMan falutes the old Men, and a Youth the young Men ; after which asking 

 their Names, the Couban calls himfelf by that Name ever after, and defires the 

 Strangers to accept of his Name ; during which their changing of Names they ufe 

 many Ceremonies of Friendftiip : this done, they proffer them Cotton Ham- 

 mocks to reft themfelves in, and pleafant Fruit to eat, till they have prepared other 

 Meat . which is no fooner Ready, but a little Table is fet before every one of 

 them, and a Difh of Meat confiding of boyl'd Hedgehogs, boyl'd Crabs, and Pot- 

 herbs ; which if the Gucfts do not eat heartily, or drink up all the Liquor which 

 they give them, they take it asa great Affront • but if they eat and drink heartily, 

 they take it kindly, and fliew great forrow at their departure. 



Their Offices of Government have been ufually three ; the meaneft belong'd to 

 the Ttwboulihauthe, whofe Place was to Govern over the Qarbet,z Houfe where Stran- 

 gers were Entertain'd,Matters of War difputed of,and publick Feafts kept. Tioubow 

 tonti Commanded the Canoos in the time of War, that is, under the Nabalene, who 

 Commanded the whole Fleet : But the chiefeft Officer of all was the Ouboutou . to 

 which degree of Honor none attain'd, unlefs he had kill'd feveral Arovages, or at 



leaft a Governor. 



When the Caribbeeans drew all their Forces out of the Iflands to a Battel, then 

 they chofe one out of the Ouboutou, who during their March Commanded the 

 Army as General, which his Office ended with the War, and extended no farther 



than his own Ifiand. 



M m 1 Their 



m 



