the South-Sea. 73 



Cafes for the Feet, fuch as the Spaniards ufe of Silver upon 

 Solemnities, which are worth 4 or 5 00. Crowns. 



It is true, that their Horfes being come from Europe, 

 they have imitated their Furniture, making that of Wood 

 or Hern, which they faw made of Iron or Silver. Confi- 

 dering the prodigious Number there is at prefent through- 

 out all that Continent, it is amazing that they fhould have 

 multiply'd fo muchin lefs than 200 Years, that thofe which 

 are not extraordinary beautiful^ are not worth above two 

 or three Crowns at La Conception ; and yet, as has been 

 faid before, the Indians eat many; and when they ride, 

 they take fo little Care of them, that many of them burft. 



The Indians, to keep the Account of their Flocks, and Knots infieM 

 preferve the Memory of particular Affairs, make ufctfW"///^ 

 of Knots in Woolj which by the Variety of Co- 

 lours and Knitting, ferve inftead of Characters and Wri- 

 ting. The Knowledge of thofe Knots, which they call 

 Quip®*) is a Science and a Secret which Parents do not 

 reveal to their Sons, till they think themfelves near their 

 End ; and as it often happens, that for want of a ready 

 Wit, they do not comprehend the Myftery, thofe Knots 

 occafion them to miftake, and fo become of no Ufe. To 

 fupply the Want of Writing, they employ thofe who 

 have good Memories, to learn the Hiftory of their Coun- 

 try, and to recite it to others. Thus they preferve the - 

 Memory of the ill Ufage of the Spaniards towards their 

 Anceftors, when they fubdued them, which perpetuates 

 their Averfion for them : But when they are put in Mind 

 of the Advantages they afterwards gain'd over thofe Stran- 

 gers, whom they drove from five Towns they had built in 

 their Country, their natural Fiercenefs revives, and they 

 only wifh for an Opportunity to drive them again from La 

 Conception : But as long as they fee French Ships coming 

 and going, they dare not take off the Mask, being per- 

 fuaded that they would afford the Spaniards confiderable 

 AfTiftance. Being themfelves haughty, they unwillingly 

 bear with the Vanity of thofe who would command them ; 



L yet 



