? c8 TbeHtftoryof Book II. 



affirms, fpend day and night in dancing : And we have faid elfe- 

 where, that there are many Savages who make their imagina- 

 ry felicity of the other life to confift in dancing. 



But the Caribbians ufe Dancing particularly at their folemri 

 Entertainments in their Carbet ) or publick houfe. Thefe En- 

 tertainments are ordered after this manner : Some days before 

 the meeting the Captain gives notice to every houfe, that all 

 may appear at the Carbet at the day appointed : In the mean 

 time the Women make a kind of ftrong drink of bak'd Cajja- 

 va^ and better prepar'd then that which they ordinarily drink, 

 and as they adde to the dofe of the Ingredients, io is the 

 drink the ftronger, and more apt to intoxicate : The men go 

 a fiftiing, or catching of Lizards ; for as to other meat they 

 feldom prepare any for their own Tables, unlefs they have 

 Strangers to entertain : On the day appointed both men and 

 women paint their bodies with divers colours and figures, and 

 adorn themfelves with their Crowns of Feathers, their richeft 

 Chains, Pendants, Bracelets, and other Ornaments: Thofe 

 among them who would appear moft gallant rub their bodies 

 with a certain Gum, and blow the Down of diverfe Birds upon 

 it. In fine, they all put on their beft faces, and endeavour to 

 make the greateft (hew they can at this folemnity, priding it in 

 their Plumes, and all their other gallantry : The women bring 

 thither the Drink and Meffes they have prepared, and are ex- 

 treamly careful that nothing be wanting, which may contri- 

 bute to the folemn entertainment ; Our Caribbians fpend all 

 that day and the beft part of the night in eating and drinking, 

 dancing, difcourfing and laughing : And in this Debauch they 

 drink much more, than ordinary, that is, they make a fhift to 

 1 get drunk 5 and the women will not be much behind them, 

 efpecially when they can get any Wine, or Aqua-vit£ to pro* 

 mote the work : So that what we have faid of their ordinary 

 fobriety holds not at thefe Meetings j no more than it does at 

 their going to their Wars, and at their return thence : and yet 

 take them at the worft, their exceffescome much fhort of thofe 

 of the Brazilians , who in their Debauches drink three or four 

 days without ceafing, and in their drunkennefs engage them- 

 felves in all kind of Vices. 



Their drunkennnefs and their debauches are frequent, as 

 hapning upon thefe feveral occafions.* I .When there is any Coun- 

 cel held concerning their Wars .- 2. When they return from 

 their Expeditions, whether they have prov'd fuccefsful or not: 

 3. Upon the birth of their fir ft Male Children : 4. When they 

 cut their Childrens hair : «?. When they are at age to go to the 

 Wars \ 6. When they cut down trees, in order to the making 

 of a Garden and building of a Houfe: 7. When they launch a 

 newVeilel : And laftly when they are recovered of fome dif- 

 eafe : They call thefe aflemblies Ouicoit, and fince they have 

 converfed with the French, Vin, that is, Wim* But 



