11 8 
BOOT AN. 
manly courage. Their feeble mode of attack and defence is, therefore, 
imputable only to their want of discipline; to their not fighting in 
compact files or platoons; and to their consequent distrust of each 
other; and something also must be attributed to their utter inexpert 
ence of war: for indeed, among this crowd of combatants, we find 
merely husbandmen and villagers, called at once from their peaceful 
occupations to the field of battle. 
Every kind of discipline and order is totally disregarded in their 
mode of warfare; stratagem is more practised than open assault: they 
engage in general as marksmen, and wait their opportunity to fire 
unobserved. Both parties are so careful to conceal themselves, that 
seldom any thing is visible but the top of a tufted helmet, or the end 
of a bow: no wonder, therefore, that in their contests very few are 
killed. 
The accoutrements of a fighting man, fully equipped, are extremely 
cumbrous. A prodigious deal of loose clothing surrounds the body: 
besides the common mantle, he wears very often a blanket, or thick 
quilted jacket. This, as well as the.helmet, (which is made either of 
stained cane, coiled conically, or else of cotton rope, quilted between 
two cloths, with flaps that occasionally turn down over the ears, and 
a piece to cover the nose,) if not absolutely proof against the stroke 
of a sword or arrow, must at least considerably weaken its force. He 
carries upon his arm a large convex shield of painted cane, coiled 
close, and a long straight sword is worn across the body, thrust 
through the belt before. To these arms must be added, a bow, and 
a quiver of arrows, slung by a belt behind the back; the arrows 
