136 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. 
himself, however, he was totally unable to find his 
way home ; and, after wandering for some time, 
was fain to return to the camp of the Giagas. This 
voluntary arrival seems to have given him favour 
in their eyes ; and he was well treated four months, 
which they spent " continually triumphing, drink- 
" ing, dancing, and eating men's flesh," At 
length, their roamings having brought them to the 
neighbourhood of a Portuguese settlement, and the 
wizards having announced it as the devil's pleasure 
that Battel should depart, he found no difficulty in 
effecting his safe removal, along with some slave 
merchants who came to the camp. 
The Giagas are described by him as a race of or- 
ganized out-laws, who have neither country, posses- 
sions, industry, nor arts of their own ; " depending 
" on war for a supply of all they want." Wherever 
they come, complete desolation attends them ; 
they reap the corn without sowing any in its place ; 
and, instead of cautiously extracting the juice of 
the palm trees, they cut them down and leave them 
to rot. He confirms the report, that, in this com- 
munity, no children are permitted to live ; but 
are buried alive as soon as born. They keep 
up their number entirely by taking the boys and 
girls, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, from the 
places they have conquered, training them to all 
thei&roaming and predatory habits. " They make 
f war," says the writer, " by enchantments, and 
