Sp6 



A M E%^1C A. 



v. 



Chap. VII. 



Strange kind 

 of Pfogno- 

 fikation. 



flie wears on her Head, and if he chances to'hit it, he gives her his Benediction" by 

 licking certain parts of her Body, from which flie hopes to receive long Life. 



So foon as a Woman is gotten with Child by her Husband, flie lies no' more 

 with him, but he is permitted to enjoy his other Wives, whofe number is either 

 more or Icfs, according to every ones pleafure. The Women after Delivery eat 

 their After-birth. ' 



Adultery is free for Men, but if Women be taken in the Aft, they are immedi- 

 ately put to Death. 



After they have done Soweing and Planting, the King calls all his People and 

 Subjects together, and appears to them hung round with Garlands • and all of 

 them have their Bodies Painted and ftuck full of divers colour'd Feathe'rs. 



The Priefts when they go about to foretel future Events,either Sing orPipe and 

 at the fame time hold up their Heads towards the Skip, and ftand gazing, as if (hey 

 faw fome ftrange Vifion in the Air . on fome of their Backs hangs a Bundle of 

 Oftnches Feathers . fome throw Feathers in the Air, to fee which way the Wind 

 blows When the Waters overflowing Srafik did much harm, Anno 1641. the 

 Priefts be.ng Confulted, brought forth the King's Calabajh, in which lay their fa. 

 cted Stones call'd Cobuterak and Tttfcbeymb, and began to Dance and Sing ' next fix 

 Priefts were plac'd in a row, which were to Prognofticatc : whereupon the firft 

 taking up a Stone, faid, Tk Netherlander have given Battel to tboft in St. Salva- 

 dor, but arena* about an Agreement : The fecond held up a Bloflbm of Indian 

 Wheat, and foretold that there would be plenty of that Grain : The third holding 

 a white Pebble-ftone, promis'd ftoreofMilk: The fourth grafp'd a Stone like 

 Bread, telling them that the Countrey fliould produce much Bread : The fifth 

 holdmg up a Bowe and Arrow hung full of Feathers, cry'd aloud, This is a Gift of 

 the Jngels, S,rd, jhaB flie thicker than thefe Feathers hang together : The fixth, having a 

 lump of Wax, foretold that there would be plenty of Honey made by the Bees 

 that year. J 



They worfliip the Conftellation Urfa Minor. 



They 



"p ■ 



