Cap. XXII. TfcCaribbjr-lflands. 



lations of his Wife, but upon extraordinary occasions. 



When it happens that any one among them hath no Coufin- 

 germarts, or that having (laid too long ere they took them to 

 Wives, their friends have dhpos 'd of them to others, they may 

 now marry fuch as are not of any kin to them : but it is requi^ 

 fite that they demand them of their Fathers and Mothers, and 

 as foon as the Father or Mother hath granted their requeft, 

 they are their Wives, and they carry them to their own habi- 

 tations. 



Before they had altered fome part of their ancient Cuftoms, 

 by reafon of the converfe they have had with the Chriftians, 

 they took none for their lawful Wives but their Goufins, who 

 were theirs by natural right, as we faid before, or fuch young 

 Maids as their Fathers and Mothers willingly profferd them at 

 their return from the Wars. This ancient Cuftom of theirs 

 hath many particular circumitances worthy our remark 5 and 

 therefore We fhall give an account of it at large, as we have it 

 from the moft ancient of that Nation who have related it, to 

 fhew the great changes which have crept into their Manners 

 and Cuftoms, fince they became acquainted with forreign Na- 

 tions. h 



When the Caribbians return'd with fuccefs from their Wars, 

 andt^hat thetewas a foleftm feceptibn made for them in their 

 Iftands, and a great entertainment at their Carbet, after that 

 Solemnity, which is ftill in ufe among them, the Captain gave 

 an account of the fuccefs of their Expedition, and commended 

 the generolity and gallantry of thole who had behav'dthem- 

 felves valiantly : But his main defign was to recommend the 

 valour of the yourtgmen, the better to animate them to make 

 future expr^ffions of the fame courage upon the like occafions. 

 It was ordinarily at the end of that difcourfe that Fathers of 

 fimilies, who had Daughters marriageable, took occailon to 

 prefentthem for Wives to thofe among the young men whofe 

 performances they had heard fo much celebrated, and whole 

 courage and undauntednefs in fighting had been fo highly com- 

 mended : There was an emulation among them who mould get 

 fiich for their Sons-in-law : And he who had kill'd moft Ene- 

 mies, had much ado that day to fcape with one Wife, fo many 

 would there be proffer'd to him : But Cowards and perfohs 

 of no worrli met with no courtfhip to that purpofe 5 fo that!, 

 to be married among them, there was a neceffity of being cou> 

 ; ragious; for a Wife in that Nation then was the reward of ge- 

 nerality. Thus among the Braflians^ the young men were not 

 admitted to marry till they had kill'd fome Enemy : And m a Vin.Ie Elan, 

 City of Grand-Tartary ..called Palimbrota^ thofe of higheft qmi- p.i c. 30, 

 lity could have no Wives till they had brought proof that in,y 

 * had kill'd three Enemies of their Prince. 1 It is reported alfd, AWab \~ 

 that heretofore in Carmanta^ if any one were defirousto marry, iexandro,, /„ 

 , \ it 1. c.24. 



