Cap. VII. The Caribby-lflands. 



among them for their Cacicks, or Commanders in chief, and 

 are fomewhat of a higher ftature thanthofe Inhabitants of the 

 Caribbies^yet not differing much from them 5 fave only that fome 

 of them cover their privy parts with a piece of cloth, but ra- 

 ther for ornament, than out of any consideration of ftiame or 

 modefty : Thofe therefore who have travell'd into thofe 

 Countries affirm, that, from the mouth of the River Marouyne, 

 which lies at five degrees and forty five minutes of the Line to 

 theNorth,tothefourceof it, there are twenty days fail, and 

 that all along it the Caribbians have their Villages like thofe of 

 our Wanders. « 



We obferve further out of the Voyages of fome Dutch, that 

 the Inhabitants of that Continent, through which the River 

 of Cayenna makes its • paffage into the Ocean, are naturally 

 Caribbians. 



In fine, it is not impoffible but that thefe Caribbians might 

 crofs thofe Countries as far as Brajtl$ for thofe who have made 

 voyages thither, affirm, that among the Provinces, which lie 

 along the coafts of the South-Sea, there are fome people, com- 

 monly known by thename of Caribbians $ and that being of a 

 more hardy and daring conftitution, as alfomore apprehenfive 

 and fubtle than the other Indians > Inhabitants oiBraJll, they 

 are fo highly efteemed among them, that they conceive them 

 to be endu'd with a more excellent kind of knowledge than 

 the others 3 whence it comes that they have a great fubmiffion 

 for their Gounfels , and defire them to prefide at all their Fefti- 

 vals and rejoicings^ which they feldom celebrate without the 

 prefenee of fome one of thefe Caribbians, who upon that ac- 

 count take their progrefs up and down the Villages, where 

 they are receiv'd with acclamations, entertainments and great 

 kindnefs,- as John de Lery hath obferv'd. 



Were it necelTary to produce any further confirmation to 

 prove that thefe Caribbians, fcattered into fo many places of 

 the Continent of the Meridional part of America, are of the 

 feme Nation with the Inlanders, we might alledge what is una- 

 nimoufty affirm'd by the two Dutch Colonies planted in thofe 

 coafts, to wit, thole of Cayenna and Berbica, both neighbours 

 to the Caribbians of the Continent , to {hew the conformity 

 and refemblance there is in many things, as conftitution, man- 

 ners, cuftoms, 8cc. between them and the Indian Inhabitants of 

 the C*ribbies,oi whom we (hall give an account hereafter ; But 

 it is time we conclude this chapter, which is already grown to 

 a great length ^ yet could it not be divided, by reafon of the 

 uniformity and connexion of the matter. 



Yet have we a word further to add, in anfwer to a queftion, 

 which the curiofity of fome perfon might haply take oceafion 

 toftart, which is. How long it may be fince the Caribbians 

 came out of Florida into thefe Iflands } We muft acknowledge 



G g 2 there 



