Their manner of Consulting with their Zemes.
The Casiques desirous to know future Events of War, or whether the approaching Years will be fruitful, go into a Chappel consecrated to the Zemes, and snuff the intoxicating Herb Cohobba up their Nostrils; whereupon they break out into loud Exclamations, and some kind of strange extravagant Actions, till the power of the Cohobba begins to decay, and the Frenzie cease; then coming again to their Senses, they bow their Heads, and lay their Elbows on their Knees, in which posture they sit for a considerable time, then lifting up their Eyes they yawn as if they came from sleep; then they mutter to themselves whilest their Retinue which stand about them (for no common Person is suffer’d to be there) thank them with a loud Voice, for the pains they have been at in discoursing with the Zemes; then the Casiques begin to declare what hath been reveal’d to them, viz. whether they shall be fortunate in the Wars or not; whether it will be a fruitful or unfruitful, healthy or sickly Year.
Gossipping.
Moreover, at the Birth of the Casique’s Children, the neighboring Governors visit the Women in Child-bed, and every one gives the Child a peculiar Name, from whence it happens that one Man hath oftentimes forty Names, and is highly incens’d if any one of them chances to be forgot in any Writing directed to him.
Manner of Succession.
Their manner of Succession in Government is not unremarkable; for not the eldest Heir-male of the Family, but first the King or Casique’s Brother, if he have any, and after his Decease the eldest of the Sisters Inherits the Realm or Seigniorie: if the Sisters have no Male-issue, then the Brothers Sons Inherit; and in case they have no Male-heir, then the next of Blood, whether Male or Female: but if the Prince or Casique dies without Children, Nephews, or other near Relations, the next in Power in the Countrey Inherits, and Marries as many Wives as he pleases; of which she that he loves best is burn’d alive in her best Apparel with her Husband when he dies, and near the Corps stands a Cup of Water and some of the Bread Cazabi.
Languages.
There are several Languages in Hispaniola, but differing from each other: for in the Province Bainoa they have a different, both Pronunciation and Dialect from that in Caizimu.
In the said Province of Caizimu is a very remarkable Rock, or vast Stone to be seen, at the Foot of a high Mountain; and underneath the said Stone is a great Cave, into which they go through a large Passage, not unlike a Temple Door; near which conjoyn many deep Rivers, with such a Noise and Foam, that they lose both their Sight and Hearing, whoever approach the same.
An Example of the Bainoan Language.