Cap. VUI. T^Caribby-ldands. 



houfes in them : The Metropolis of the Country, which is cal- 

 led Melilot, hath above two thoufand 5 they are all built of 

 pieces of wood planted into the ground and joined one to anO* 

 ther : The covering is for the mod: part of the leaves of reeds, 

 grafs, or rufhes : Thofe of the Captains are done over with a 

 certain Maftick, which keeps off the rain, and preferves the 

 thatch from decaying in many years: The floors of all the 

 houfes is of the fame material, whereto they add a certain gol- 

 den land which they get out of the neighbouring Mountains 9 

 and which gives fuch a luftre as if they were fown with little 

 ipanglesof Gold. 



The Rooms of the, ordinary fort of people are hung only 

 with a kind of Mat , made of Plantane-leaves and rulhes a 

 which they have the. art of dying into feveral colours 5 

 thofe of perfons confiderable among them, are hung with pre- 

 cious Furs, or Deer-skins painted with divers figures, or with 

 a kind of Tapiftry made of Birds-feathers, which they fo in- 

 duftrioufly intermingle, that it feems to be embroidered: Their 

 Beds are about a foot and a half from the ground, and are co- 

 ver'd with skins that are drefs'd^ and as fort as can be wifli'd * 

 Thefe skins are commonly painted With Flowers.) Fruits, and a 

 hundred fuch inventions, and their colours are fo well fet on 

 and fo lively, that at a diftance one would take them for rich 

 Tapiftry:The wealthier fort in the winter time have their beds 

 covered with the skins of Martins, Beavers, or white Foxes, 

 which are fo well drefs'd, and perfum'd with fuch artifice, that 

 they never admit any thing of ordure: The Officers and all 

 the moft confiderable Inhabitants lie on Mattf effes filfd with a 

 certain down that grows on a little plant, and is as foft as filk $ 

 but the common people take their reft on dry'd fern,which hath 

 the property of taking away the wearinefs of the body, and 

 retriving the forces exhaufted by hunting, gardening, and all 

 the other painful exercifes confequent to their courfe of 

 life. 



The VelTels they ufe in their houfes are either of wood or 

 earth, enarael'd with divers colours, and very delightfully 

 painted : They fharpen upon ftones the teeth of feveral wild 

 beafts, and therewith arm their Arrows and Lances : Before 

 (hangers came among them and traded in their Country, they 

 knew not there was luch a thing as Iron 5 but they made ufe 

 of extraordinary hard and fharp ftones infteadof wedges, and 

 certain fmooth and cutting bones, inftead of knives. 



They all live very amicably together under the conduct of a 

 King, who keeps his Court at Jldelibt, the Metropolis of the 

 Kingdome : In every City there is a Governour, and other 

 fubordinate Officers, who are appointed by him, and chang'd 

 at his pleafure, as he thinks moft convenient : The Villages 

 alfo have Captains and heads of Families, by whom they are 



H h governed. 



