Mr. W AF ERs Voyages ^ &c. 



But to mend our Commons, the young Indian, ^ 

 at whofe Houfe we were left, would often give n 

 us fome ripe Plantains, unknown to his Neigh- 

 bours 3 and thefe were a great Refrefliment 

 to us. This Indian, in his Childhood was 

 taken Prifoner by the Spaniards 5 and having 

 liv'd fometime among them, he had learnd 

 a pretty deal of their Language, under the 

 Bifliop of Panama, whom he ferv'd there 5 

 till finding means to efcape, he was got again 

 among his own Country-men. This was of 

 good ufe to us ^ for we having a fmattering 

 of Spanijh, and a little of the Indians Tongue 

 alfo, by palling their Country before, be- 

 tween bot^ thefe, and with the additional 

 ufe of Signs, we found it no very difficult 

 Matter to underftand one another. He was 

 truly generous and hofpitable towards us 5 

 and fo careful of us, that if in the Day- time 

 w[e had no other Provifion than a few forry 

 green Plantains, he would rife in the Night, 

 s and go out by Health to the Neighbouring 

 Plantain-walk, and fetch a Bundle of ripe 

 ones from thence, which he would diftribute 

 among us unknown to his Country-men. 

 Not that they were naturally inclin d to ufe 

 us thus roughly, for they are generally a kind 

 and free-hearted People 5 but they had taken 

 fome particular Offence, upon the account of 

 our Friends who left us, who had in a man- 

 ner awed the Indian Guides they took with 

 them for the remainder of their Journey, 

 and made them go with them very much a- 



B 4 gainft 



