Ch. IX. SOUTH AMERIC A. 185 



away and by taking it out of the water, the Balza 

 will lutF, or keep nearer to the wind. Such is the 

 method uled by the Indians in fleering the Balzas, 

 and fometimes they ufe five or fix Guaras, to prevent 

 the Balza from making lee-way, it being evident, 

 that the more they are under water, the greater re- 

 fiftance the fide of the veffel meets with ; the Guaras 

 performing the office of lee boards, ufed in fmall 

 vefTels. The method of fteering by thefe Guaras is 

 fo eafy and fimple, that when once the Balza is put in 

 her proper courfe, one only is made ufe of, raifing 

 or lowering it as accidents require, and thus the Balza 

 is always kept in her intended direftion. 



We have before obferved, that this river and its 

 creeks abound in fifh, which for fome time in the year 

 afford employment for the Indians and Mulattoes in- 

 habiting its banks, and for which they prepare to- 

 wards the end of fummer, having then Ibvvn and 

 reaped the produce of their little farms. All their 

 preparatives confifl in examining their Balzas, giving 

 them the neceffary repairs, and putting up a frefh tilt 

 of Vijahua leaves. This being finilhed, they take 

 on board the neceffary quantity of fait, harpoons and 

 darts. With regard to their provifion, it confifts only 

 of maize, plantanes, and hung beef. Every thing 

 being ready, they put on board the Balzas their 

 canoes, their families, and the little furniture they are 

 maflers of. With regard to the cattle and horfes, of 

 which every one has a few, they are driven up to 

 winter in the mountains. ' 



The Indians now fleer away to the mouth of fome 

 creek, where they expe(5l to take a large quantity of 

 fifh, and flay there during the whole time of the 

 fifhery, unlefs they are difappointed in their expecta- 

 tions in which cafe they fleer away to another, till 

 they have taken a fufficient quantity, when they re- 

 turn to their former habitations ; . but not without 

 taking with them Vijahua leaves, bejucos, and canes, 



for 



