Cap. XIX. The Caribby-Mands. 



out betraying the leaft fign of refentment and pain 5 nay, on 

 the contrary, it was requisite that he receiv'd all with a lmiJing 

 countenance 3 as if he were the mod fatisfied man in the World: 

 We (hall not wonder fo much that thefe Barbarians (hould en- 

 dure luch Torments, in order to the acquisition of fome Dig- 

 nity, when it (hall be considered, that the Turks do not (hew 

 themfelves fomtimes lefs cruel towards themfelves, upon the 

 account of pure gallantry, and as it were byway of divertife- 

 ment 5 witnefs what is related by Busbequius in the fourth Book 

 of his EmbajJieS) which were too tedious to fet down in this 

 place. 



To return to the Caribbians of the Iflands : This ancient ce- 

 remony, which they obferved in the eledtion of their chief Go- 

 vernours, will no doubt be thought ftrange and (avage$ but 

 there isfomthing of the fame kind obfervable in other Nations: 

 For in the Kingdom of Chili they chufe for the Sovereign 

 Captain him who is able longed: to bear a great Tree upon his 

 moulders : In the Country of IViapoco, towards the great River 

 of the Ama%ons^ to be advanc'd to the dignity of Captain, he 

 muft endure, without the leaft ftirring of the Body, nine extra- 

 ordinary ftrokes with a Holly-wand from every Captain, and 

 ijhat three feveral times 5 but that is not all 3 he muft alfb be 

 put into a Bed of Cotton, over a Fire of green Leaves, the thick 

 Smoke whereof afcending upwards, muft needs be very trou- 

 blelbm to the wretch who is fo mad as to expofe himfelf there- 

 to ? and he is oblig'd to continue there till he be in a manner 

 half dead 3 this fpeaks a ftrange defire to be Captain : Nay, 

 heretofore among the ?erjians ) thofe who were defirous to be 

 admitted into the Fraternity of the Sun, were requir'd to give 

 proofs of their Conftancy in fourfcore feveral forts of Tor- 

 ments : The Brazilians ^ without any other ceremony , make 

 choice of him for their General who hath taken and khTd mofi: 

 Enemies : And now alfo in fome of the Caribbies the Caribbians 

 themfelves laugh at their ancient Ceremonies at the eleftion of 

 their Captain 3 for having obferv'd that their Neighbours think 

 that kind of proceeding ridiculous, they now make choice of 

 him for their Chief, who having behav'd himfelf valiantly irt 

 the Wars againft their Enemies, hath acquir'd the reputation 

 of a brave and gallant perfon. 



Asfoon as the Cacick^ is receiv'd into his Charge, he is highly 

 refpe&ed by alI,infomuch that no man fpeaks if he do not ask 

 or command him to do it 3 and if any one cannot forbear fpeak- 

 ingas he ought, all the reft immediately cry out, Cala la bocca, 

 which they have learn'd from the Spaniard 3 But it fuffices not 

 to be filent in the prefence of their Chief, but they are al- 

 fo very attentive to his Difcourfe, look upon him when he 

 fpeaks 3 and to fhe w that they approve of what he fays, they are 

 wont tofmile, and that fmile is accompanied by a certain Huti- 

 Bun. S f 2 Thefe 



