Situation and Description ofBrasile.
BrasilebyCapraliscall’dSan Cruz, because it was discover’d on the Day dedicatedPedro Alvarez Capralishis Expedition toBrasile.to the holy Cross, but generallyBrasile, from the red Wood, which it produces in great abundance, extends, according to the Account of thePortuguese, between the RiversMaranonandDe la Plata: But according to the Division which PopeAlexanderthe Sixth made upon the Approbation of the Kings ofCastileandPortuguese,Brasileextends not so far; for it begins in the North along the StreamPara, and ends at the RiverCapybora, two Leagues beyond the TownSt. Vincent: Eastward it is wash’d by the Northern Ocean, and on the West separated fromPeruby desolate Mountains: It lies between 4 and 22 Degrees of Southern Latitude. Historiographers differ much concerning the first Discoverer; but without contradiction the first honor belongs justly toAmericus Vesputius, who being sent out byFerdinand, King ofCastile, in the Year 1497. arriv’d first with four SailatBrasile; whither he was follow’d two years after byVincent Aynez Pinzon, Associate toChristopher Columbus; but with ill success, for two of the Ships were cast away in a Storm, and the other two return’d sadly weather-beaten into theSpanishHavenPalos, yet not before he had made a farther Discovery ofBrasilethanAmericus Vesputius; which so stirr’d upEmanuel, King ofPortugal, that he sentPedro Alvarez Capralisthither with five hundred Men in thirteen Ships, that so he might get sure footing onBrasile; where Landing he erected a Stone Cross, and inform’d the King of his whole Proceedings byGasper Lemnius, with whom he sent over twoBrasilians, a Man a Woman, the strangeness of whose Garb caus’d great admiration inPortugalamongst the Spectators: the Man, having a flat Nose, went stark naked, and in his nether Lip hung a Stone call’dMatara; through each Check there was stuck a piece ofBrasileWood, on his Shoulders he carry’d three long Darts, and on his Head he wore divers colour’d Feathers; the Hair about his Privities was all pluckt out, and hisMembrum Virilety’d about with a String call’dTacoaynhaa, which he unty’d when he Urin’d; his Body was strong and well proportion’d, and painted with several Colours. The Woman wore a Lappet girt about her Middle, in which Girdle stuck a Cane Tobacco-pipe; the Lappet reach’d just to the top of her Knees, the rest of her Body was also naked; on her Head she wore a broad Hat made of Feathers, on the top of which stuck two Plumes; in her Ears hung Bells, and about her Neck three Strings of Pearl; and her Body was also painted with red and yellow Colours.Lemniusalso gave so much Information concerning the fruitfulness ofBrasile, that severalPortugueseFamilies went thither, accompanied with someItalianFryers, which scattering up and down, began to build several Villages, but were soon after most of them kill’d and eaten up by theIndians.
Anno 1549.KingJohnthe Third fitted out a great Fleet, which set Sail fromLisbonunder the Command ofThomas de Sosa.
Jesuitssent toBrasileby PopePaulusthe Third andIgnatius.
Also the JesuitsAspilcueta,Antonio Pireo,Leonardo Nonno,Didaco Jacobo,Vincent Roderico, andEmanuel Robrega, were sent thither by PopePaulusthe Third, andIgnatius Loyola, whose Fleet came to an Anchor in the Bay afterwards call’dBahia de TodosSanctos, whereSosabuilt the CitySalvador; since which thePortuguesehave spread themselves farther and farther overBrasile.
Temperature of the Climate.
TheUnited Netherlandsalso sent Colonies thither with good success, for they took several vast Countreys from thePortuguese, by force of Arms, and built new Forts and Towns in several places. But we will first give you a general Description of it, that so we may the better render a Relation in particular of every Province thereof, it being a considerable part of theNew World, and both pleasant and fruitful, and the Sea-Coasts refresh’d by Easterly Winds, which begin before Day-break, when the North Sea ebbs or flows, for then the Wind rises with the Sun, and continues till Mid-night: Towards the West, where the Mountains divideBrasilefromPeru, it is made temperate by Westerly Winds, which though judg’d unwholsom, because they seem to arise out of the Moorish Grounds, yet they hurt not the Inhabitants along that Coast, because they either break against the high Mountains, or are driven by the strong Wind which blows from the Sea.
The difference between Summer and Winter, shorter and longer Days, in the main part ofBrasile, is scarce discernable, warm Weather lasting all the year round; and for the length of the Day and Night, the Sun being hid under the Horizon twelve hours, shines for the most part just as long, the greatest difference never being above an hour. Three hours before Day-break the Dew makes it exceeding cold till Sun-rising; wherefore theBrasiliansmake Fires in the Night near their Hammocks, not onely to keep wild Beasts from them, but also against the Cold. After the coldest Nights follow the fairest Days, and the contrary after sultry Nights; nevertheless (except in the rainy Season, which begins withMarchand ends aboutAugust) the Skye is generally clear, yet it Lightens much towards the Evening. Rainbowes often appear in the Skye, and bout the MoonHalos. The Rain generally falls in great Drops, and with a mighty noise; before which it is generally very sultry hot, or else soon after. The Dew, which is fruitfuller than inEurope, is saltish, which makes it oft to rot things that lie in the open Air. During the rainy Moneths, a South-East Winds blows from a cloudy Skye, much stronger than the Northern in Summer. The South-East Wind drives the Stream to the North, as the North Wind drives it to the South: And more than this, there is little to be discern’d of the Seas ebbing and flowing hereabouts: At the highest Tides theBrasiliansgo several Leagues from the Shore to Fish, upon Planks made of the spungy Wood call’dJangadafastned together. The Sea, which seems to burn in the Night, is so clear in the Day, that the Fish may be seen to swim above twenty Fathom deep. A calm Ocean when the Days and Nights are of an exact length, and especially when dark Clouds appear, is a certain sign of a dreadful Storm. At Full or New-Moon the Sea rises twelve Foot, and continues either a longer or shorter time, according as it is more or less turbulent, and the Rivers fall stronger or more gently into the same.
Before most part of the Coast ofBrasilelies a Stone Cliff of above twenty or thirty Paces broad, which is never cover’d with Water, though in the time of Spring-floods. In this Cliff Nature in several places hath made a Gap, through which the Ships sail near the Shore, and ride safe at an Anchor.
The whole Countrey ofBrasileis divided into thirteenPræfectures, or Lordships, and hath about as many Rivers, which more or less empty themselves into every one of these Countreys. The Eastern part hath several Brooks and Fountains, which afford good Water both for Man and Beast. In some parts the Water is so strong, that the wild Beasts making themselves Drunk therewith, are easily taken. During the Winter Season the Rivers glide with great force, and swell on asudden, overflowing all the neighboring Countrey, onely the RiverSan Franciscoruns strongest and rises highest in the Summer Season, whenas in the Winter it flows low, and poures but little Water into the Ocean. The original of this River is as yet unknown, yet is by most believ’d to come out of a great Lake lying near thePeruvianMountains: TheHollanders, who sail’d forty Leagues up the same, found it every where broad and deep, and scatter’d full of Isles and Rocks. ThePortuguesesailing ten Leagues farther, discover’d the great RocksCocoeras, from which the said River falls down with great violence, and extends it self North-West. In the otherBrasilianStreams, though wide at the Mouthes, which generally are not above two or three hours walking from their Fountains or Springs, no Barque is able to Row up, they being exceeding shallow, although much Rain falls into them; the reason whereof is because the barren Mountains lying betweenBrasileandPeru, discharge abundance of Water through the Rivers ofAmazones,Maranon,Francisco,La Plata, and theJuaeiro, with such force into the Ocean, that they keep their sweetness for thirty Leagues. Near the Sea side are several Lakes and Pits which are drinkable, and others up in the Countrey that are brackish.
The Nature of the Soil.
The Countrey differs exceedingly, for where it extends in Plains the Soil is fat and clayie, and produces all sorts of Fruit, but especially Sugar-Canes. During the rainy Seasons the Trees flourish most; after which the heat of the Sun, and fertility of the Soil speedily ripen the Fruit: wherefore they Dung not their Land, but on the contrary endeavor to make it lean with Sand, that the Plants might not have too many Leaves, and wither before the Fruit can be ripened. They Sowe in the beginning of the rainy Moneths, and especially take care that the Seed lie not too deep in the Ground, because then the Sun-beams being not able to come at it, suffer it to perish in the cold Ground.
The highCocoaandPalmito-Trees, are transplanted all the year round, the Roots being onely cover’d with a little Earth, because they can endure no cold.
Several Trees here bear a cooling Fruit, as if kind Nature took care to provide against excessive heat.
Description of theTamanda.
All manner of Plants and Herbs brought hither fromAngola,Portugal, theNetherlands, and theEast-Indies, grow here very plentifully. But the Countrey generally would be much better, if some way could be found out to destroy the innumerable company of Pismires, which though three times bigger than theEuropean, resemble them very much, and cover the Paths in Woods and Fields for three or four Miles together; and raising Hillocks, make them hollow, and fill them with Corn: in the Full of the Moon they gather an incredible quantity of Grain, which they bite at each end, because it should not sprout: against the rainy Moneths they stop up their Holes, that the Water may not damnifie their Store. But these Animals have a mortal Enemy of theTamanda, of which there are two sorts, the bigger call’dGuaca; the lesserMiri; theGuaca, notwithstanding it is no bigger than an ordinary Dog, yet it destroys Tygers, and other wild Beasts, with such a raging fury, that it never lets go what once it hath got hold of, but holds it fast so long till sometimes it dies of Hunger. TheGuacadiffering from theMirionely in bigness, hath a broad Tail full of grey and black Bristles, which sticks up when he is vex’d, but when he goes to sleep, covers himself with the same. TheMiriwinds his long smooth Tail about the Boughs, by which hanging he searches the Holes in the Trees with his Tongue, which being thin and round, hath a Gutter in the middle, in which when it feels any Pismires, it suddenly swallows them down: If he perceives them to have their Nests under Ground, then he scratches up the Earth, andputs his Tongue in at the Holes. Both theGuacaandMirihave a thick Skin, and a broad black Streak from their Breasts on each side up half way their Bodies, and through the black runs also a white Streak. No Beast in the World is hardier than this, for though it fasts twelve days, and is afterwards flay’d alive, yet it will live several hours after.
The PlantManyle.
Description of the TreeIbriptanga.
The TreeTatai-iba.
The Lakes inBrasileare for the most part overgrown with Weeds just like a Field, yet are exceeding full of Fish and Fowl. Where the Sea runs into the Lakes, great multitudes of Crabs are seen crawling along the Ground, and the Oysters hang in Clusters on the Boughs of a Plant call’dManyleorMangues, which grow with their Roots either near or in the Water, in such a manner, that new Bodies still shoot from the old Roots, which prevents easie access to the chief Plant, on whose uppermost Leaves after Sun-rising sticks very white Salt, which in the Night, or in a cloudy Day turns to a brackish Dew. Moreover, those places whereBrasilerises with Hills and Mountains, are likewise very fruitful, except the barren tops of some, which seem to kiss the Skyes; and though the fruitful Mountains flourish in the time of the rainy Months, yet many of the Trees which grow on them die in Summer, and their Ashes being burnt by the Inhabitants, are us’d in stead of Dung. Some Woods extend themselves three hundred Leagues in length, and are full of Trees, so tall, that an Arrow shot upwards falls short of the top of them, and a Boat may be made out of the Body, which can carry a hundred and fifty Men. On the great Boughs of these mighty Trees grow other excrescent Shrubs after the manner of Misseltoe, which proceed from the Kernels swallow’d and muted upon them by the Birds that light there. In some places also grow also Sweet-wood Trees, which afford either excellent Gums or Wood to Dye with; amongst which the chief is theIbiripitanga, which yields theBrasileWood, that gives Denomination ofBrasileto this vast Tract of Land. The TreeIbripitangais tall and spreading, hath sad colour’d Bark full of short Thorns; the Leaves are green, and differ in form but little from the Box-Tree Leaf; the Boughs shoot forth other lesser, full of yellow and sweet-smelling Flowers, which falling off are succeeded by a flat long Cod, of a dark grey colour, full of little red Pulse; the upper part of the Tree is not good to Dye with, but onely the lower part of the Body, which because the Tree grows far up in the Countrey, is not transportable without much trouble. But theTatai-ibagrows in the Woods along the Shore; the Bark being of an Ash-colour, invests a yellow Wood; the Leaves are sharp and notch’d, the Fruit not unlike Mulberries, pale, juicy, and full of white Seed; the Wood boyl’d Dyes a pure Yellow. It is observable not onely of this Tree, but generally of the Trees of this Countrey, that they neither flourish, nor shed their Leaves all over at once, nor do several Trees of the same kind, and growing here germinate or fade together; for whilest one is fullest of Blossoms, the other is without Leaves; and whilest the same Tree sheds its Leaves on one side, the other side is newly Budded.
TheEuropeanPlants and Herbs with soft Roots, being once Planted inBrasile, come to be hard and lignifi’d. There is also great difference, according to the Ground in which they are Planted; for such Plants and Trees as in the Plains are but small and tender, grow ten times higher if Planted in the Woods.
All sorts ofIndianPulse grow higher than the tallest Trees, like high Arbors, under which both Men and Beasts may shelter themselves from the Sun or Rain.
We find not upon Record or Tradition, thatBrasilewas ever troubled with an Earthquake, which is the reason that it hath neither Silver nor Gold-Mines, because sulphurous Fires are found under Ground, which are a cause of the production ofGold and Silver, so likewise they occasion Earthquakes: yet in that part ofBrasilecall’dCeara, there are some Mines of Silver, out of which theHollanderswould have got greater Riches, had not they been employ’d in the Wars against thePortuguese.
Far up into the Countrey amongst the Mountains, inhabitCanibals, or Man-eaters. TheEuropeansthat first travell’d that way, found the Countrey very fertile and full of People, especially in the Valleys, but somewhat incommoded by the want of Water, and the excessiveness of the Heat in the Day, and of the Cold in the Night. In some places the Countrey is so over-grown with Brambles, that they are forc’d to cut their way through the same. But there are a sort of Thistles, which having concave Leaves, receive the Dew and Rain for the accommodation of the Natives.
Besides Serpents and Dragons, the Tygers are most of all to be fear’d when hungry, but once satisfi’d are easily taken.
Dogs, Oxen, Sheep, and Horses thrive also exceedingly in most parts ofBrasile.
The Nature of theBrasilians.
TheBrasilianslive to be very old without being Bald or Grey: There are seldom or never to be seen squint-ey’d, lame, decrepid, or any deformed People, notwithstanding the Children are never Swath’d but thrown into cold Water as soon as born. The Men generally have a very near resemblance one with another, as also the Women, so that there is not such a difference betwixt Man and Man there, as amongst other People. There is scarce any Sickness heard of in these Parts; for besides a long Life, they enjoy the benefit of Health so long as they live. They trouble not themselves with much Business; and in one Hut, whose Covering consists of Palm-Leaves, dwell several Families together.
Their manner of Living.
Their several sorts of Drinks.
The general Bread of theBrasiliansis the stamp’d RootMandihoka; besides which they also eat all manner of Fruit and Plants, and many times Flesh, which they either eat boyl’d, broyl’d, or stew’d; their Boyling is after this manner: First they kindle their fire with two Sticks, the one of hard, and the other of soft Wood; the hard they make sharp at the end, and fix the same into the soft, which setting on fire they immediately lay Cotton thereupon, or else dry Leaves, and so boyl the Flesh in round Earthen Pots call’dCamu: but they account that better which isstew’d in a Pot, the bottom whereof is cover’d with Leaves, on which they lay the Flesh, then stopping the same close on the top with Earth and Leaves, they make Fire over it so long till they think the Flesh to be sufficiently stew’d. Their Broyling they perform by fixing forked Sticks into the Ground, over which they lay several others like a Gridiron; and upon them the raw Flesh, cut in long Slices, and Pepper’d and Salted, then make a Fire under the same till it is enough; and their Meat so dress’d keeps good fourteen days. Their Fish either boyl’d or broyl’d is eaten with the SawceJuquitinga. The little FishPiabaandPiquitingathey make up in Rolls, and lay them under hot Ashes. Both with their Flesh and Fish they eat for Bread, as hath been said, the Meal of the RootMandihoka, which they taking up with three Fingers throw into their Mouthes so dexterously, that not the least scrap falls besides. They never observe any set hours to eat, for they make several Meals in the Day, and sometimes in the middle of the Night, if their Appetite serves, and neither drink nor speak whilest they are at their Meat. They sleep in spread Hammocks made fast between two Poles, near which burns a constant Fire with which in the Day-time they dress their Meat, and at Night keep themselves warm, the Nights being there somewhat cold, because of their equal length with the Days. Their usual Liquor is cold Water, taken out of the Fountains, Rivers, or Brooks; but to Carouse they make the DrinkCaoi, of the Fruit of theOcaiiba-Tree, which being stamp’d in a woodden Mortar, is strain’d, and at first looks like Milk, but after a few days standing turns to a darker colour, and is strong enough to make Astronomers of those that drink largely of it, but if long kept, it turns to be excellent Vinegar.
They have another Drink call’dAipu, which is made two several ways; the first is thus: An old Toothless Woman chews the little cut RootAipimacaxerato a Pap call’dCaracu, which spitting in a Pot they pour Water on the same, and afterwards boyling it leisurely, stirring it all the time it stands over the Fire. The other way of making thisAipu, which is much the more cleanly, is to boyl the said Root so long, till it comes to be like Butter-milk, and then letting it stand till it hath done working, it will be no unpleasant Drink.
Another sort of Drink amongst them is theirPacobi, made of the Fruit of the TreePacobeheandPacobucu; besides others made of the TreeAbatu, ofIndianBarley andMaiz. Also their Liquor call’dJeticiis press’d out ofPotato-Roots.
In like manner the PlantNana, by thePortuguesecall’dAnanas, makes the DrinkNanai, which is exceeding strong and heady, but good against Faintness, Vomiting, Gravel, and stoppage of Urine, as also against Poyson.
Their Deboches.
TheTapuiyans, sur-namedCariri, meet at a certain time to make the LiquorAipu, whereof each takes as much to his Hut as falls to his share, and when it hath done working, they begin in the Morning very early at the first House in the Village, and drink out every drop which they find there, and so from House to House till they have drunk one another drie; and he is look’d upon to be the best Man that hath drunk and evacuated most.
Their manner of Taking Tobacco.
TheBrasilianstake generally very strong Tobacco, which they first drie in the Sun, and afterwards before the Fire, the better to rub it in pieces: Their Tobacco-pipe is a Cane and a hollow Nut cut off at the top, and a round Hole bor’d in the middle, into which they put the Cane. They forbear not to take Tobacco even in the midst of their religious Ceremonies, which are perform’d with Singing and Dancing in this manner:
Their religious Ceremonies.
TheTapuiyansmaking a round Ring at an equal distance one from another, all of them being stark naked, tie divers colour’d Plumes of Feathers on their back-sideswith a String made fast on their left Shoulders and about their Wastes; about their Legs they have Cotton Garters; each in his turn bowing to the Left, stretches down his left Hand to the Ground, and puts his right Hand in between the Strings which tie the Plume of Feathers, and stamps continually with his right Foot, whilest all the rest begin to Sing a doleful Song, which by degrees they change into a merry one, not without some appearance of understanding the Art of Musick. Their Songs contain first a mournful Relation of a general Deluge, which drowned their Predecessors, all but some few, who escap’d by climbing up high Trees and Mountains; next the Acts of those old Heroes from whom they boast themselves Extracted, who lost their Lives, or valiantly fought for the publick good, and were rewarded with the enjoyment of all pleasures and Delights, of Singing, Playing, Dancing, and the like, in a remote Countrey, whither after their Deaths they hope to be translated: Whilest they thus Sing over all their Songs, three Priests stand in the middle of the Ring, each holding the IdolMaraka(in their left Hand) resembling an old Ostritch’s Egg stuck full of Feathers on the top: about their Wastes they wear a Girdle of rich Plumes, on their Heads also a Crown of Feathers; the middle Priest looks with a stern Countenance, and holds up his left Leg from the Ground, whilest the other two standing on each side of him, hold in their right Hands a Pipe, out of which blowing Tobacco-smoak in one anothers Faces, they utter these words,Receive the Spirit of heroick Strength: The Dance ended, they Entertain their Priests with Meat and Drink eight days together, and also put Meat before their IdolMaraka, who is the chief Deity they adore.
Their Arms.
Their Arms consist of Bowes made of hard Wood, Strung with twisted Cotton Thred; their Arrows they make of the CaneTacaara, made very sharp at the end, or headed with some Beasts sharp Tooth, or pointed with the Bones of the FishIperu. Some of theTapuiyansuse great Darts, and long Clubs of black Wood, broad before, and full of sharp Spikes; the Handles being wound about with Cotton Strings call’dJatirana, under which hangs a Tuft of the BirdArara’s Feathers, as also about the middle. Their Trumpets, call’dCanguenca, are the Shin-bones of Men, thoughthey have others also made of great Shells and Canes. They us’d to be continually at War one with another, which they wag’d neither for Lands nor Riches, but either to make themselves eminent, and to be accounted valiant Soldiers, or most especially for the sake of Man’s-flesh to feed upon, which they love beyond all things in the World, wherefore they fatten all their Prisoners for the slaughter. Their Battels are always cruel, for they fight very desperately.Emanuel de Moraesrelates, That he saw aBrasilianfight with three ArmedPortugueses, who slew him not till after he had wounded them all three.
The Languages of theBrasilians.
The Languages of theBrasiliansare several, each Countrey speaking a peculiar Tongue, but so different that they cannot understand one another. TheTabuyansare divided into above eighty Tribes, each speaking a peculiar Language, which have no resemblance one with another; nevertheless they have a general Language which is understood by most of them. The JesuitJoseph Anchietapublishing aBrasilianDictionary inConimbrica,Anno 1595.shewed that the fore-mention’d Language wants the Lettersf,l,s,z,r, and hath no double Consonants in any word, exceptmb,nd,ng, so that the sound of the word falls generally on the last Vowel. The fore-mention’dMoraeswell experienc’d in theBrasilianTongue, writ an Alphabet of all the most familiar words thereof us’d in common Discourse, of which it will not be unnecessary to give this following Extract:
The Words for Action, are these following:
The Words for Action, are these following:
The Words for Action, are these following:
These are of the most usual words of the general Language inBrasile, besides which every distinct Tribe or Division of People hath its peculiar Tongue, as hath been said, of which the chiefest and most eminent are theTupinambu,Tabaiaras,Potigi-iguaras,Marhuites,Waimoores,Tomonimenos,Waitaquazes,Wainasses,Topinaques,Pories,Molopaques,Motaias,Biheros,Wainawasons,Tamoies,Tocomans, and theCariogs; of all which theTupinambuare the most comely, especially their Women, which (according to the testimony of the aforesaidEmanuel Moraes, an Eye-witness) may stand in competition with theEuropeanBeauties. These Women accompany their Husbands when they go into the Wars, and carry their Provisions, especially store of Tobacco. In the Lips both of the Men and Women hang little Stones. The Men take as many Wives as they please; and amongst the generality of the fore-mention’d Nations, there is scarce any sign of Religion to be discern’d.
TheTobarasandPotigi-iguaras.
TheTobarasare accounted the best Horsemen; but in Singing and Discourse, thePotigi-iguarasexceed all the otherBrasilians: They place twenty or thirty Singers in a Row, which observing Time, Sing the Transactions of their Predecessors with good Voices.
TheWaimoores.
TheWaimooresare a strong People that inhabit the large Tract of Land betweenBahiaandIsleos, and having well timber’d Bodies, can keep pace with a Horse running full speed. Five or six of them often set upon a Sugar-Mill, though a hundred Men be at work in the same: They are all over bedaub’d with Dirt, because they lie like Beasts on the Ground: They wear long Hair, and have no certain Abodes.
TheTomonimenos.
TheTomonimenos, living aboutSpirito Santo, are more civilis’d; they make Walls of Stone about their Huts; and these Walls are full of Holes, through which they shoot Arrows at those that Invade them; their Bodies are Painted red and black, and cover’d with Feathers. ThePortuguesetaking sixteen thousand of them Prisoners at once, kill’d most of them, and destroy’d the Countrey all along the RiverParaiva.
TheWaitaquazes.
At the South and North Point ofCape Friodwell theWaitaquazes, bigger and stronger than theWaimoores; and they also sleep like Hogs on the Ground about a Fire, hold all People for their Enemies, and their Flesh for the greatest Dainty. The Women Arm’d with Bowes and Arrows stand by their Husbands in Battel.
TheWainasses.
The Description of the PlantVruca.
OnIsla Grandereside theWainasses, a little People, which have very long Bellies, go stark naked, shave the Crown of their Heads, and let the other part of their Hair hang down long on their Shoulders. The Women, which are of gross Bodies, colour themselves Red withVruca, which is a wild Plant, but much us’d amongst them: the Kernels are inclos’d in Husks full of red Fibres. These Kernels are not onely mix’d with the other Ingredients of theChocalettaDrink, but also us’d to Dye of a red Colour: The Wood of this Plant is very white, and the Bark grey, like the Hazle; the Leaves being of a deep Green, resemble a Heart; at the end of the Boughs grow several Blossoms, each as big as a Rose, consisting of five Leaves, partly red and partly white, in the middle whereof are yellowish Threds with purple Points, which give little or no smell: after the Flower follows the Fruit, two Fingers long; when it begins to be ripe it grows still redder and redder, each Cod containing thirty or forty round Kernels, which being touch’d leave a red tincture upon the Fingers; the Cod when ripe opens of it self, and shews the Kernels speckled white, which dry’d, pounded, and mix’d with Piss, Dye so strong a Red, that Linnen dipt into the same will never receive any other Colour. This Root also boyl’d in Broth, makes it not onely red, but gives it a pleasant taste.
TheTopinaques.
TheTopinaques, which dwell aboutSt. Vincent, are a strong and gross People, go stark naked both Men and Women: when they kill any of their Enemies they Paint themselves with the FruitJanipano, put a great Plume of Feathers on their Head, and two Sticks in their Mouths, Dancing with strange motions of the Body, inclining sometimes towards the right, and sometimes towards the left side, for three day together; during which time they drink a filthy kind of Liquor. The Women, who have well proportion’d Bodies, onely covering their Heads with a Cap, about which they tie a bread of Hair, to which a square Basket being fastned, hangs below their Backs when they travel.
ThePories.
The Mountains along the Ocean, which inclose much Gold, are inhabited by thePories, a peaceable People, molesting none of their Neighbors; they sleep in Nets of Flags, and have no other Houses than three Poles plac’d triangular, and cover’d with Palm-Leaves; they feed on Pine-Nuts andEyrires, Apples that have Shells like a Walnut, and have also the precious Balsam-Oyl in great abundance.
TheMolopaques.
Along the RiverParadivainhabit theMolopaques; the Men strong and well timber’d, have Beards long enough to cover their Privities. The Women also fair, modest, prudent, and never laughing, tie their Hair, painted with several colours, round about their Middle with a Cord, so that it serves in stead of an Apron. They observe a set-hour for Dinner and Supper, which is not us’d by any otherBrasilians. The Mountains in these Parts consisting of a black Mold, have plenty of Gold, but it is of no esteem or regard amongst them, onely that which is wash’d down by the Rain they gather up, but put to no other use than to make Hooks to hang their Nets on.