428 



upon the fortune of the chafe for fubfiftence. 

 A fmail fpecies of deer, called wirrebocerra % 

 the laba, and the armadillo are among the 

 animals they moft efteem. Fifh and crabs are 

 alfo much ufed, particularly the latter, which 

 they find in great abundance in the muddy 

 margins of the rivers ; efpecially at the parts 

 where they open into the fea. When fortu- 

 nate in the chafe, they indulge their natural 

 indolence by lying in their hammocks moft of 

 the time until their provifions are expended j 

 and when the fupply obtained by the bow and 

 arrow is lefs plentiful, or when their hunt 

 in the woods happens to prove unfuccefsful, 

 they find a refource in crabs and caffada, which 

 may be confidered their ftaple articles of con- 

 fumption. Indeed the caffada may be called 

 th^ir Jlaff of life, for it offers a fupply when 

 they fail in the chafe, and becomes to them 

 what plantains are to the negroes of thefe 

 colonies, or potatoes to Iriih peafants. It 

 being the only vegetable they cultivate, it is 

 Biual to fee it planted in a rough and irregular 

 manner near to and about their huts. Very 

 commonly they prepare their food in the 

 form of pepper-pot — their favorite dimes 

 |>eing crabs, or laba, ftewed with caffada 



