Cap. XVII. T^CaribbyJflands. 



do : And of the lame material they alfo make thofe Piates or 

 Planks on which they bake the Cajfava. 



The dexterity they exprefs in thefe little Exercifes, is a fu£ 

 ficient difcovery that they would eafily learn other Trades, if 

 they were taught them. They delight very much in handling 

 the tools of Carpenters and Joyners 3 and though they have 

 not been taught how they are to be us'd, yet are they able to 

 do many things fince the Europeans have fupply'd them there- 

 with 'i So that it is to be prefum'd, that if they'had good Ma- 

 tters, they would do well at thofe Trades. 



They are great Lovers of divertifements and recreation 5 

 and thence it comes they feek after whatever may keep them 

 in a good humour, and divert melancholy : To that purpofe 

 they take a pleafure in keeping and teaching a great number 

 of Parrots and Paraquitos. 



To divert themfelves they alfo make feveral Mufical Inftru- 

 ments, if they may be fo called, on which they make a kind 

 of harmony: Among others they have certain Tabours or 

 Drums made of hollow Trees, over which they put a fkin on- 

 ly at one end : To this may be added a kind of Organ which 

 they make of Gourds, upon which they place a cord made of 

 the ftring of a reed which they call Pite $ and this cord being 

 touch'd makes a found which they think delightful. The con- 

 certs of divers other Savages are no better then theirs, and no 

 lefs immuficai to their ears who underftand Mufick. In the 

 mormng, as foon as they are up, they commonly play on the 

 Flute or Pipe ? of which Inftrumeat they have feveral forts, as 

 well polifh'd andashandfomasours, and fome of thofe made 

 of the bones of their Enemies : And many among them can 

 play with as much grace as can well be imagin'd for Savages. 

 While they are playing on the Flute, the Wives are bufie in 

 making ready their breakfaft. 



Sometimes alfo they pafe away the time in ringing certain 

 Airs, the burthens whereof are pleafant enough 5 and in that 

 Exercifethey fometimes ipend half a day together, fitting on 

 their low ftools, and looking on their fifti while it is broiling. 

 They alfo put peafe or fmall pebble-ftones, as the Virginians 

 do, into gourds, through the midft whereof they put a ftick 

 which ferves for a handle, and then making them they make a 

 noife: This, is the invention the women have to quiet their 

 child ten. Moit of the Caribbian Songs confift of bitter raille- 

 ries againft their Enemies 5 fome they have alfo on Birds, and 

 Fifties, and VV omen, commonly intermixt with fome bawdery 5 

 and many of them have neither rhime nor reafon. 



Many times alfo the Caribbians of the Iflands joyn Dancing 

 to their Mufick, but that Dancing is regulated according to 

 their Mufick. There are fome Barbarians exceffively addifted 

 to that Exercifo, as for inftancethe Braplians^ who, as de Lerj/ 



Rr 2 affirms, 



