chap, vir: 



*A M E %^I C A. 



197 



They oblcrve a very ftrange way of Purging 5 for with a Stick they thruft (harp 

 Leaves down their Throats into their Stomach, which they turn fo long till they 

 vomit Blood. 



In the Summer they have a general Meeting for Wreftling, and other Exercifes, TW*,m»- 

 which lafts three days. The Wreftlers are ftrangely attir'd j for they are all over Jin s- 

 their Bodies befet with divers forts of Feathers, and in (lead of Boots or Buskins, 

 wear the Barks of Trees about their Legs 5 their Hair befmcar'd with Honey, an^F^ 

 ty'd in a Tuft, hangs down behind ; on their Crowns they wear a Plume of#Fea- % # 



thcrs, about their Necks a Band or Gorget of Feathers ; at their Arms they tie the 

 Wings of the Birds Kjhitul, and on their Backs a green Bough . their whole Bo- 

 dies Painted with divers Colours, and their Hair all Red : Thus accoutred, they 

 Engage one with another, and if there be an old Grudge between them, then they 

 Fight in earned, and .often kill one another : The Victor with ftrange Actions 

 upbraids the Vanquifli'd with Cowardife, and ever after enjoys his Wife and 

 Children, 



They eat the Serpent Manuab, being four Yards long, and on the Tail having a 

 Horn, which with a pufh it thrufts into Man or Beaft, as it lights, then winds it 

 felf about the Body, and fucks till it hath fuck'd the laft drop of Blood. 



Here are alfo Serpents which are fo poyfonous, that the leaft Wound receiv'd by 

 them is mortal, unlefs the part bitten be either immediately cut out, or off. 



The Priefts cut the deceafed Bodies into pieces, which are roafted by old Wo- 

 men j the Bones are taken out, and at the next publick Feaft are ftamp'd, mix'd 

 with Water, and Drank : But the Bodies of Noblemen are to be eaten by none 

 but Perfons of that Rank. 



They alio Crown their Kings after a ftrange manner, *j£. The Priefts, who are Their m^ 

 befet with Feathers, anoint him with fvveet-fmelling Oyl, or Balfam, and put a"?ng their"' 

 Crown of divers colour'd Feathers on his Head, after which they all fall a Singing HT* 

 and Dancing ; but if any one happen to fpeak a word of the deceafed King, they all 

 begin to howl and cry. The Kings Authority confifts more in Advifing than 

 Commanding. «. 



They believe that the Souls of thofe who die a natural Death are immor- TWr o P i^ 

 tal ; but thofe that are kill'd by their Enemies, devour'd by ravenous Beafts, or »«>stheSouL 

 poyfon'd, are totally cxtinguifh'd both Soul and Body for ever. They fay like- 

 wife that Hell is Weftward near a dark Pool, where the Devil Examines every 

 Soul how they liv'd on Earth, and what Death they dy'd ; the Good are Ferry 'd 

 over to a delightful Valley, where there is plenty of Fifh, Honey, and Flefli } but 

 the Wicked are miferably tormented. 



The Natives live peaceably amongft themfelves> their Law being for thofe that 

 have not, to ask, and for thofe that have, to give. 



They never Travel in the Night for fear of Serpents and other ravenous Beafts, 

 neither do they go any whither till the Sun has dry'd up the Dew. 



King Janduy before-mention'd, being above a hundred years of age, defir'd the S?nibS^ 

 Prince oijuckers fair Daughter to Wife, but being deny'd, contriv'd a fubtil Plot, piot - 

 V^. he invited Jucker, with his Courtiers, to a Wreftling - whither he coming with 

 his whole Train, was earneftly minding the Sport, when a confidcrable number of 

 Janduy s Women falling upon J taker's Men, deftroy'd a great many of them, and got 

 the defir'd Maid for Janduy, who at that time had fourteen Wives and fixty Chil- 

 dren, but had formerly enjoy'd fifty Wives and Concubines. 



Not onely amongft the Tapuyans, but generally amongft the reft of the Brafilians, Theil Arms - 

 their Arms are great Clubs call'd Tacapes 5 alfo lliarp Darts, and ftrong Bowes 



I i i call'd 





i i 



mmm 



