They also Crown their Kings after a strange manner, viz. The Priests, who are beset with Feathers, anoint him with sweet-smelling Oyl, or Balsam, and put a Crown of divers colour’d Feathers on his Head, after which they all fall a Singing and Dancing; but if any one happen to speak a word of the deceased King, they all begin to howl and cry. The Kings Authority consists more in Advising than Commanding.
Their Opinions concerning the Soul.
They believe that the Souls of those who die a natural Death are immortal; but those that are kill’d by their Enemies, devour’d by ravenous Beasts, or poyson’d, are totally extinguish’d both Soul and Body for ever. They say likewise that Hell is Westward near a dark Pool, where the Devil Examines every Soul how they liv’d on Earth, and what Death they dy’d; the Good are Ferry’d over to a delightful Valley, where there is plenty of Fish, Honey, and Flesh; but the Wicked are miserably tormented.
The Natives live peaceably amongst themselves, their Law being for those that have not, to ask, and for those that have, to give.
They never Travel in the Night for fear of Serpents and other ravenous Beasts, neither do they go any whither till the Sun has dry’d up the Dew.
King Janduy his subtile Plot.
King Janduy before-mention’d, being above a hundred years of age, desir’d the Prince of Juckers fair Daughter to Wife, but being deny’d, contriv’d a subtil Plot, viz. he invited Jucker, with his Courtiers, to a Wresting; whither he coming with his whole Train, was earnestly minding the Sport, when a considerable number of Janduy’s Women falling upon Jucker’s Men, destroy’d a great many of them, and got the desir’d Maid for Janduy, who at that time had fourteen Wives and sixty Children, but had formerly enjoy’d fifty Wives and Concubines.
Their Arms.
Not onely amongst the Tapuyans, but generally amongst the rest of the Brasilians, their Arms are great Clubs call’d Tacapes; also sharp Darts, and strong Bowes call’d Orapares, with Shields, which are made of the Skin of a Beast call’d Tapiroussous.
