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to our fhips on the clofe of twilight d , the occafion of which pro- 

 bably was to take care that all their people mould return fafe to 

 their habitations about that time. 



It fhould feem that the authority of this ruler is confined to a 

 particular village of thefe habitations, together with fuch a dif- 1 

 trie! of country as may be fuppofed to belong to the inhabitants 

 of fuch a community, who fometimes are at war with other 

 villages, againftwhom they appeared to alk our affiftance, making 

 us figns e for that purpofe. There are however many other 

 villages which are friendly to each other, if not to thefe Indians ; 

 for on our firft arrival more than 300 came down in different 

 parties, with their women and children, who were not indeed 

 permitted to enter the village of our Indians. 



Whilft this fort of intercourfe continued between us, we ob- 

 ferved an infant who could fcarcely be a year old, mooting arrows 

 from a bow proportioned to his fize and ftrength, and who hit 

 one's hand at two or three yards diftance, if it was held up for a 

 mark. 



We never obferved that thefe Indians had any idols, or made- 

 facrifices : but as we found out that they had a plurality of wives, 

 or women, at leaft, we inferred, with good reafon t that they were 

 perfeM aiheijls. 



Upon the death of one of thefe Indians they raifed a fort of 

 funeral cry, and afterwards burned the body within the houfe 

 of their ruler ; but from this we could not pronounce they were 

 idolaters, becaufe the cry of lamentation might proceed from, 

 affliction, and the body might have been burnt, that the corpfe 



d A la oracion, in the original, at which time the Spaniards ufually 

 make a Ihort prayer. 



* What thefe were is not ftated, 



mould 



