; of thelfthmus 0/ America. , t2p- 



them at every turn with a long and thin, 

 piece of Macaw-wood like a Ruler , which 

 lies a-crofs between the Threads of the 

 Warp for that purpofe. 



The Girls alfo twift Cotton- Yarn for 

 Fringes, and prepare Canes, Reeds, or Pal- 

 me to-Leaves, as the Boys alfo do, for Bas- 

 ket-making. But the making up the Baskets TheMefis 

 is the Mens work 3 who firft dye the Mate-^ a £g 4 . 

 rials of feveral curious lively Colours, and 

 then mix and weave them very prettily* 

 They weave little Baskets like Cups alfo ve- 

 ry neat 3 with the Twigs wrpught fo very 

 fine and clofe^ as to hold any Liquor, with- 

 out any more to do , having no Lacker or 

 Varnifli : And they as ordinarily drink out 

 of thefe woven Cups , as out of their Ca- woven 

 Jabafties, which they paint very curioufly. Cups * 

 They make Baskets of feveral fizes, for 

 carrying their Cloaths, or other ufes, with 

 great variety of Work • and fo firm, that 

 you may crufti them, or throw them abour^ 

 how you will ahnoft, with little or no da- 

 mage to them. 



The young Maids are fhut up in private Mod e% 

 by their Parents at the time of Puberty, and of ^ 

 will not be feen by any, but put a piece of 

 Cotton as a Veil over their Faces, if any one 

 fhould come accidentally into the place 

 where they are, though it be their Father. 

 This Confinement lafts not long, but they 

 foon go abroad again. They are very mo- 



K, deft 5 



