C a p. VIII. The Caribby-Illands. 



There is no venemous creature nor any wild beaft in the 

 lower part of the Country ; for the Inhabitants of the Moun- 

 tains, who are expert Huntfmenj drive them into the Forefts, 

 where they find them continual work and fport : So that the 

 flocks of (beep, and herds ofcattel and fvvine graze up and 

 down the skirts of the Mountains without any body to look 

 after them. But within the woods, and in the delarts, which 

 are not much frequented by men, there are divers Monftrous 

 and dangerous Reptiles, as alfo Bears, Tygers, Lions, Wolves, 

 and fome other kinds of cruel Beafts, which live by prey, and 

 are particular to thofe Countries. 



The men in thefe Countries are for the moft part of high 

 ftature, of an Olive-colour, and well proportion'd, their hair 

 black and long : Both men and women are very neat and cu- 

 rious in keeping their hair clean and handfomely order'd : The 

 women tie up theirs about the crown of the head after the 

 form of a Garland } and the men cfifpofe theirs behind the 

 ears: But upon days of publick rejoicing, all have their hair 

 looie, dimevel'd, and dangling over their {houlders^a falhion 

 becomes them well. The Inhabitants of thofe Provinces that 

 lie towards and among the Mountains, cut off all the hair on 

 the left fide of the head, that fo they may the more eafily draw 

 their Bows, and they order that which grows on the other 

 fide, foasto make a creftftanding over the right ear: Moft of 

 them wear neither Caps nor any thing inftead of Shoes, but 

 they cover the body with the skins of Bears or Tygers, neatly 

 fown together, and cut after the falhion of clofe coats, which 

 reach down to their knees, and the fleeves are fo fhort that 

 they come not over the elbow. 



The Inhabitants of the other Provinces which are feated 

 in the Vales and Plains, went heretofore naked from the Na- 

 vel upwards, in the Summer-time, and in Winter, they wore 

 garments of Furrs } but now both men and women are clad all 

 the year long : In the hotteft feafons, they have light cloaths, 

 made of cotton, wooll, or a certain herb, of which they make 

 athred as ftrong as that of Flax : The women have the art of 

 fpinning all thefe materials, and weaving them into feveral 

 kinds of ftufFs, which are lading, and delightful to the eie. 

 Butin the winter, which many times is hard enough, they 

 ate all clad in feveral kinds of skins, which they have the skill 

 to drefs well enough : They leave the hair on fome, and fo 

 makeufeof them as Furs: They have alfo the art of tanning 

 Ox-hides, and other skins, and making Shoes and Boots of 

 them. 



The men wear Caps made of Otter-skins,whieh are perfectly 

 black and glittering, pointed before, and fet out behind with 

 ibrne rich feathers, which hanging down over their moulders 

 make them look very gracefully : but the women have no 



