The Natives of Jaquazia run faster than a Deer, and tire not though they travel a whole day.
Hermophrodites.
The best Swimmers are found in Alpachia, Authia, and Someria, where the Women Swim through deep and great Rivers with their Children in their Arms. Here also are many Hermophrodites, which carry all the Luggage when an Army is upon a March.
Their manner of taking Crocodiles.
As also their Deer.
We find mention’d also two other Provinces of note, viz. Colas (which lies near the Point call’d Cape Florida) and Tegista, or Florida properly so call’d, being that long Peninsula, which pointing upon the Isle Cuba, by the Cape Los Martyres, stretcheth it self North and South about a hundred Leagues in length, but not above thirty in breadth where it is largest. In this Province is the Rio de lo Spirito Santo. The Soyl, though it produces Indian Wheat twice a year, yet it is never Dung’d, but when the Corn (which is planted in March and June) is in, they burn the Weeds; the Ashes of which serves them in stead of Soil. The King divides the Corn according to every Mans Family. In the Winter they dwell four Moneths in the Woods, where they build small Huts of Palm-boughs, feed on Venison, smoak’d Fish, and Crocodiles, which have pure white Flesh, and are caught after this manner: On the Shore of the Rivers they build little Houses full of round Holes, in which they place a Watch, who is to give notice to ten or twelve Associates, cover’d all over with Boughs full of little sharp Prickles, which they thrust into the Crocodiles Throat, who with open Mouth comes running at them, and so throwing him on his Back, stick his Belly full of Arrows, and kill him with Clubs. But with more subtilty and art they take their Deer, viz. They hide themselves under a Stags Skin, so cunningly, that it seems as if living, which they place near the Rivers where the Deer generally come to drink, when on a sudden they shoot them.
Floridans, though libidinous, yet live long.
Their Priests serve in stead of Chirurgeons, wherefore they always carry a Bag full of Herbs about with them, which are chiefly good against venereal Distempers; for these People are exceeding libidinous; nay, Sodomy and defiling of young Children is accounted no sin: Yet though they are much inclin’d to Women, they attain to a great Age.
Rene Laudoniere Landing not far from the City Augustine, situate on the Banks of the River May, met with the Floridan Governor Saturiona, who conducted him to the French King’s Court of Arms, erected two years before, which Saturiona, as a testimony of his zeal to the French, had Crown’d with Laurel and Flowers. Saturiona had with him also his Son Atoreus, who had begotten divers Children on his Mother; whom his Father after that time no more acknowledging, resign’d her up wholly to him: At which time also his great Grandfather being then living, was above a hundred and fifty years old, and saw his Childrens Children to the fifth Generation.
Their horrid Religion.