The Clothes which the Rich gave to the Sun, were distributed amongst the Poor, according to a List which was taken of them.
The occasion of the Apalachites embracing Christianity.
But in process of time the Apalachites have most of them embrac’d the Christian Religion; the first occasion thereof was this: When John Ribauld had brought a French Colony to Florida, and gain’d a Fort, (which from King Charles the Ninth he nam’d Charles-Fort) the Spanish Commander Peter Melendez fell unawares upon him, and so far impower’d his Men, who had of themselves a natural hatred against the French, that they spar’d neither Man, Woman, nor Child; onely ten Men escaping the bloody Banquet, fled to the Floridan King Zaturiona, where they were kindly receiv’d, and hearing of the Civility and Power of the King of Apalache desir’d that they might go thither; which Zaturiona not onely granted, but also furnish’d the seven French-men (for the other three were dead) with good Guides, who visited Zaturiona’s Relations, living in several Villages along the pleasant Stream Selay, over which they pass’d on large Boughs artificially joyn’d together, and travell’d through Woods, Marshes, and Mountains full of ravenous Beasts, and sometimes Engag’d with the stragling Floridans which lurk’d in the most desolate Wildernesses: having travell’d two days Journey, by an Ambuscade of King Timago’s People, they lost two of their Guides, the rest being dangerously wounded, and through many Difficulties came at last to Avoeka, and from thence to the King of Apalache’s Court, who receiv’d them all with great kindness: Whereupon they resolv’d, being induc’d thereto by their courteous Reception, fruitfulness of the Soil, and good Customs of the Inhabitants, to Settle themselves, all but two of them, who return’d with the Guides to Zaturiona: the rest that stay’d there, endeavor’d by promulgating the Christian Religion, to reduce the Pagans to the belief thereof; which many embrac’d, and also learn’d the French Tongue, notwithstanding their Priests Jaova’s oppos’d the same. After the death of the French (which the Apalachites much bemoan’d) their Idolatry had like to have gotten the upper hand again, had not some English Families, fleeing from Virginia from the Cruelties of the Indians, and not able to reach New England, Landed at Florida, with intention at first onely to get fresh Provisions, but Rowing up the River Selay, and taken with the pleasantness, they chose the Province Bemarin for their Habitation, where accordingly they Setled Anno 1621. Amongst them were several Learned Men, which so effectually perswaded the Heathens to embrace the Christian Faith, that in twenty eight years time the King and most of his Nobles were Converted and Baptiz’d by them in the chief City Melilot.
But since our Design is onely to give you an exact Account of those People which inhabit the Islands lying before America, it is sufficient that we have shew’d you how they are Extracted from the Cosachites and the Apalachites.
As to the Customs of the Caribbeeans, since they are very much alter’d by their long Conversation with the Europeans, we cannot better inform our selves of their antient Customs, than from those which to this day are observ’d on St. Vincent, and some parts of the Main Continent, where the Caribbeeans have learn’d nothing from any Strangers.
Description of the Caribbeeans.
The Caribbeeans are a well proportion’d People with broad Shoulders and Hips, round Faces, without Beards, wide Mouthes, white Teeth, little Eyes like the Tartars, Feet so hard, that they are almost Dart-proof, flat Noses, so made by squeezing them down in their Infancy, and long black Hair. There are few or no deformed People amongst them; all of them go stark naked, and paint their Bodies Red with a Plant call’d Rocou, and Oyl; about their Eyes they draw a black Circle with the Juice of the Apple Junipa. This their Painting serves them both as an Ornament, and to make them strong. Others anoint their Bodies all over with a glewy Stuff, on which they stick all sorts of Feathers. Others use Gum and Flowers. Moreover, they adorn their Head with Plumes, their Ears with Fish-bones, or Scales of the Caret, or pieces of Crystal, which they also hang in their Lips and Noses. The Men wear Armlets near their Shoulders, and the Women about their Wrists; about their Legs they tie for Garters Strings of Seeds: others take a pride in wearing the Bones of their slain Enemies, and the Teeth of the Agouty, Tygers, wild Cats, or Cockle shells. When they appear in greatest lustre, then they wear Armlets under their Arm-pits, and also Scarfs of Feathers, which either hang over their Shoulders, or are girt about their Middle, so that one end thereof touches their Thighs. They set an exceeding value on certain pieces of Copper call’d Caracolis, the least of which they hang in their Ears, and the biggest before their Breasts: and because they are fetch’d out of the Province of the Arovages their Enemies, they are esteem’d as Marks of true Valor, and he is highly esteem’d that wears them.
Their Language.
The Caribbeeans which Converse with the Europeans, speak two sorts of Languages, the oldest of which is smooth, acceptable, fluent, and for the most part spoke between the Lips. According to the several pronunciations one word hath divers significations: but the Mystery of their oldest Language they will discover to none. It is very observable, that the Caribbeean Men speak several words, which though the Women understand, yet are never spoken by them: and also the antient People use several Sayings which the younger never mention, and the Youths such likewise as are never spoken by the Antient, which being spoken apart by each in the time of War, are understood by none but their Soldiers, that so their Designs may the better be kept secret. But their mix’d Language hath many of the European words, especially of the Spanish, which they speak whensoe’re they converse with the Europeans. Moreover, though the Caribbeeans on the least occasion laugh aloud, yet they are of a dull Spirit, stubborn, and nothing to be got out of them but by fair means.
Their Manners.