Chap. IX. <a M E%_ I C Jf. 6ll 



partly of Iflands near adjoyning to it, and is commonly divided into five feveral 

 Precin&s or Parts, which are i.Cumana. 2: Venenata, being upon the Continent. 

 }. Margaret*. 4. Qttbagua, two Iflands above.memion'd, famous for Pcarl-filhing • 

 and laftly, fome leiTer Iflands. 



Bourc' 



D.-i. ■ 

 Cum. 



Sect. II. 



Cumana* 



Cmana is bounded Eaftward with the Gulf of Porta and the River Orinoaue ] u 

 on the Weft, with Venezuela ; Northward it hath the Atlantick ; and on § 

 the South, thofe undifcover'd Countreys above mention'd . extending a* ° 

 long the Northern Ocean, overagainft Margareta, two hundred Leagues or more, 

 as fome fay, in length, and not much lefs than a hundred in breadth. * 



The Coaftbf this Countrey, as well as of the Iflands Margaret* and Cabagua, hath 

 formerly been much fam'd for the rich Trade of Pearls and Pearl-fifiiing . which 

 failing, its principal efteem now is for an excellent Vein of Salt, which they dig 

 here as out of a Mine, and gather it naturally made ready to their Hands, not half 

 a Mile from the Sea fide, on the back fide of the Promontory or Cape, by fome 

 call'd <Punto de Jraya, and by others for this reafon Capede Salinas. 



Places of chiefeft confutation here, are 1. Cumana it felf, a Colony of Spaniards T<m* and 

 feated on the Banks of a little River two Miles diftant from the Sea, where it hath 2? ° f 

 a good Harbor. 



2. St. Jago, a very ftrong Fortrefs, which the Spaniards of late years have built, 

 for the defence and fecurity of the Salt-works againft the Dutch, who began to' 

 Trade much that way, and in the Year 1622. had a Defign to have made them- 

 felves Mafters of the Place. 



3. St. Michael de Revert, another Fortrefs of theirs, Handing upon -a River 

 bearing the fame Name. 



~ 4. Guaniba, a Town of the Natives. 



This Countrey of Cumana, being generally infefted with terrible Crocodiles, 

 hath a large Inlet call'd Cariaco, which flows fourteen Leagues into the Countrey. 



The Men of this Countrey wear Cotton Cloaks, and anointing their Bodies Manners and 

 with Gum, ftick the fame full of Feathers. SSSJ^ 



When they go to Wars, or to a general Feaft, then they (have their Hair orTabovc 

 their Ears, pull out their Beards, and black their Teeth with a certain Herb. 



Their Princes and Grandees take as many Wives as they pleafe, and give to thofe 

 of their Guefts whom they intend moft to oblige, their choice of the fair eft of 

 them to lie with. 



Whoring is accounted no fliame, except amongft Marry'd Women, who gene- 

 rally live very Chafte, unlefs their Husbands confent to their Adultery. 



The Women alfo Hunt, Fifh, Shoot, and Swim, and are diligent in Tilling 

 their Lands, and other Houfhold Affairs. Moft of them have fore Eyes, occafion'd 

 not fo much (as fome wrongfully fuppofe) by their drinking of the Water out of 

 the Stream Qumana y but proceeding rather from their unwholfom Food, as Spiders, 

 and the like. 



Amongft the feveral forts of Trees that growJiere, there are fome that yield a 

 white wellfcented Gum, or delicious Juice like Milk, and produce a Fruit not un- 

 like a Mulberry, which may be boyt'd to an excellent Syrrnp ; the Wood alfo 

 ftrikes Fire : There are others, whofc Timber is good for Shipping. 



Lll The * 



71 











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