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*43 



Chap. IF. ' ^AMERICA. 



cufir Perfort, nor Levy any Tax without extraordinary occafiori. They are bourd 

 to march in the Front of their Subjects againftan Enemy, and are under a Gover- 

 nor-General call'd Jfmurace, or under a Kentoque. Other lcfler Offices arc diipos'd 

 of by the Curaces, or fulmes , but their Nctonques are chofen after this manner' yh n 

 When that honorable Place is vacant, then whoever aims at it, computes Mbk&*&+ 

 felf whether his Means will extend fo far as to treat the Curves and Tulmenes with a ""*"" 

 noble Treat : which if he is able to do, then he fends for them to an appointed 

 place, wh.ther they all go Arm'd,and whileft they are eating and drinking, he that 

 defires the Place begins to tell them of his noble Extract, valiant Exploits, Riches 

 and eminent Relations, and therefore defires the Place of the deceafed I^entoque ' 

 then the (We rifing, the intended Nentoque'hmgs a Chain of Turhifes, or Cockle- 

 fliells about his Neck; whereupon the Qurace moves the reft to the Election, 

 without any Articles, the new Kentoque onely promifing to Govern all things for 

 the beft advantage and benefit of the common State : which done, the C«r„« takes 

 the Chain of Turhifes, and diftributes them amongft the primcft Perfons of Qua- 

 lity, and fo they end the Day in Drinking, Dancing and Singing. 



After the fame manner they chufc an Apocurace, or prime Governor i which of 

 late the Uca's, that they may enjoy the more Priviledge tbcmfelves, have not 

 clefted. 



The Cbilefes Arms confift of Larvces as long again as the Europeans, made n* W 

 lharp at the Points. They alfo ufe Clubs plated with Iron, and Spamfl, Swords. 

 The fulcbes, who dwell behind the high Mountains Cordilbra, ufe poyfon'd Arrows 

 make Helmets and Breaftplates of Ox-hides, which neither Sword nor Arrow can 

 enter : they all know how to manage a Horfe, and the ufe of a Lance, but are 

 very much afraid of Mufquecs or Fire.locks. 



Becaufe they can neither write nor read, the Governor by a faithful MefWer 

 fends to his inferior Officers fuch Commands as he judges may tend to the nfoft 

 advantage of the Publick both in Peace and War. This Meffenger carries an 

 Arrow with a Ribbon, as a Sign of his Employment • the Arrow is held in the 

 Right-hand, and if he who receives it will anfwerthe Meflage, then he fends back 

 the fame Arrow with another ■ but if he judges it convenient to acquaint any other 

 Qtrdcts and fulmems with the fame Meflage, then he fends one of his own Servants 

 to them with the fame Arrow. 



As touching the Climate and Production of CIM, this Account is given by an *■>•**« 

 Eye-witnefs : « The Winter Seafon (faith he) is fo tempeftuous, that fometimes " * 

 « the Trees are not onely blown up by the Roots, but the Earth it felf is rent afun- 

 «der 5 fome Valleys being fili'd with Snow, fwell the Rivers exceedingly when 

 « it melts, which overflow^ pare of the Councrey, makes the fame very fruitful. 

 " It is alfoextream cold here, becaufe fuch fliarp Winds blow from the Moun- 

 tains, that they pierce through the Skin and Flefli of a Man : and indeed thefe 

 <f Winds would make the whole Countrey defolate, were not the Mountains over- 

 " grown with great Oaken Trees, againft which the Wind breaks. Moreover, the 

 " Valleys produce Coals, which ferve the Inhabitants for Fewel. The Winter be. 

 " reaves the Trees of Leaves .' but not thofe which grow in the Wildernefles. In 

 'March the Fields are full of innumerable forts of fweec-fmelling Flowers ; out of 



fome whereof are boyl'd the Angel-Water, fo call'd for its fmell and wholfom 

 ' tafte. The Grafs'grows in November and .December as high as our (landing Corn. 

 ' Turnips, Mint, Clover, and Muftard.fced, grow naturally for fevcral Leagues 



together. Likewife excellent Phyfical Herbs grow here, whole power and ope. 



ration their Do&ors, call'd Maci, keep from the Spaniards. Thefe Maci ire in great 



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