of the Ifthmus of America^ 3 71 



they ftroke it over their Tongue, to give a RelHJi, 

 and then lay it down again. 



The Indians^ when they travel, guide themfelves rheirTra- 

 either by the Sun, when it fhines, Or by fleering to- veiling* 

 wards fuch a determinate Point, obferviiig* the 

 bending of the Trees, according as the Wind is. 

 If they are at a lofs this way, they notch the Barks 

 of Trees, to fee which Side is thickeft ; which is 

 always the South, or Sunny-fide \ and their way lies 

 generally through Woods. They go alio through 

 Swamps, Boggs, Rivers, where there is no 



Sign of a Path, and are often forced to turn afide ; 

 yet will keep their way pretty direft for feveral 

 Days together ; clearing their way through Thick- 

 ets with their Macheats, efpecially if of hollow 

 Bamboes ; for there is no getting through withoup 

 it. They fwim over Rivers, Men, Women and 

 Children, withQut felling Trees, as we did there. 

 But down the River they ufe either their Canoas, or 

 Bark-Logs made of Light-w6ocf. 



When any enquire the Way of them, as we had Shewing 

 feveral Times occafion to do in pafiing and repaf-theWay 

 fing the Ifthmus^ their ulual Method of informing ? nd J rime 

 them as to the Bearing of Place they enquire after, y * sns * 

 is by pointing towards it ; and as to the Time in 

 which they may hopfc to arrive there, by pointing 

 to fome part of the Arc the Sun defcribes in their 

 Hemifphere : For according as they point higher 

 or lower, either to the Eaft or Weft of the Meridi- 

 an, they fuggeft the Time of the Day, Morning 

 or Afternoon, in which you may hope to arrive at 

 the River, Plantations, or whatever 'tis you enquire 

 after. So the Middle diftance between the Eaftern 

 Limb of the Horizon, and the Meridian, fignifies 

 9 a Clock in the Morning ; *ths of the South-weft 

 Arc of the Sun's diurnal Courfe denotes 4 in the 

 Afternoon, fsV. If the Time they would intimate 

 be not of Hours but Days, they turn their Faces 



B b 2 South- 



