Cap. XX. T/^Caribby-Iflands. 519 



they are refolv'd for the War, though they do not fay lo much, 

 immediately orders it, and appoints the time for the Enter- 

 prize by fome of their ways of numbring, as we have hinted 

 in the Chapter of their Natural Simplicity. In this place we 

 are to make this particular Remark, That they take thefe 

 bloody refolutions when they are well loaden with drink, and 

 after the Divel hath tormented them to egge them on thereto, 

 as we have faid elfewhere. 



The next day after the Affembly, nothing is leen or heard 

 in all parts of the Ifland but preparations for the War : Some 

 polifti their Bows 5 others order their Clubs } others prepare^ 

 (harpen, and poifon their Arrows } and others are employ'd to 

 make ready the Piragas : The Women, for their parts, are 

 bufie about difpofing and getting together the neceffary provi- 

 sions for the Army : So that on the day appointed they all 

 meet at the Sea-fide with all things in a readinefs to embarque. 



They all furnifh themfelves with good Bows, and every one 

 with a good flieaf of Arrows,which are made of a fmall fmooth 

 Bleed, with a little piece of iron or fome (harp bone at the 

 point : The Arrows us'd by the Brazilians are made after the 

 lame manner ■> but the Caribbians adde to theirs, to make 

 them more dreadful, a mortal poifon made of the juice of the 

 Jldamhemllo'ttees 3 and other poifons 5 fo that the leaft fcratch ' 

 made by them becomes a mortal wound. It hath hitherto 

 been a thing impoffible to get out of them the Receipt of that 

 composition. They have alfo every one of them that wooden 

 fword which they call Boutom^ or to fay better, that maffy 

 Club which they ufe inftead of a fword, and wherewith they 

 do miracles in point of fencing. Thefe are, all their Arms 5 

 for they have no Targets or Bucklers, as the tapnambom^ but De Lery 3 

 their bodies are naked. c. 1 4, 



Next the care they take about their Arms, they alfo pro- 

 vide themfelves fufficiently with belly -timber, and take along 

 with them in their little veffeis good quantities of Cajjava^ 

 broil'd Fifh, Fruits, and particularly Bananas^ which keep a 

 long time, and the meal of Manioc. The tcaquefis in their 

 tyars never trouble themfelves about any fuch thing $ and 

 what they do in this particular is fo peculiar to them, that it 

 defervesto be mentioned: for they are content with fo little 

 for their fuftenance, and delight fo much in living upon certain 

 Plumbs which grow abundantly in their Parts, and from which 

 they have their name, that when they go to the Wars they 

 are never feen to carry any pro virions for the belly along with 

 them. 



Our Savages of the Caribbies, as well as thofe of Brafil, take De Lery ? 

 along with them to the Wars a certain number of Women, to c ° x 4» 

 drefs their meat, and look to the Piragas when they are got 

 aftiore. Their Arms and Provisions are well falten'd to thefe 



Piragas 5 



