Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 15.djvu/142

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adioyning vnto the which there is a place made of foure good stancions of woode, and a round roofe ouer it, the grounde also raised round with claye a foote high, vpon the which floore were strawed many fine mats: this is the Consultation-house, the like whereof is in all Townes, as the Portugals affirme: in which place, when they sitte in Counsell the King or Captaine sitteth in the midst, and the Elders vpon the floore by him: (for they giue reuerence to their Elders) and the common sorte sitte round about them. There they sitte to examine matters of theft, which if a man be taken with, to steale but a Portugal cloth from another, hee is sold to the Portugals for a slaue.

They consult also, and take order what time they shall goe to warres: and as it is certainely reported by the Portugals, they take order in gathering of the fruites in the season of the yeere, and also of Palmito wine, which is gathered by a hole cut in the top of a tree, and a gourde set for the receiuing thereof, which falleth in by droppes, and yeeldeth fresh wine againe within a moneth, and this diuided part and portion-like to euery man, by the iudgement of the Captaine and Elders, euery man holdeth himselfe contented: and this surely I iudge to be a very good order: for otherwise, whereas scarsitie of Palmito is, euery man would haue the same, which might breed great strife: but of such things, as euery man doeth plant for himselfe, the sower thereof reapeth it to his owne vse, so that nothing is common, but that which is vnset by mans hands. In their houses there is more common passage of Lizardes like Euats, and other greater, of blacke and blew colour, of neere a foote long, besides their tailes, then there is with vs of Mise in great houses.

The Sapies and Samboses also vse in their warres bowes, and arrowes made of reedes, with heads of yron poysoned with the iuyce of a Cucumber, whereof I have had many in my handes. In their battels they haue target-men, with broad wicker targets, and darts with heades at both endes of yron, the one in forme of a two edged sworde, a foote and an halfe long, and at the other ende, the yron, long of the same length made to counterpease it, that in casting it might flie leuel, rather then for any other purpose as I can iudge. And when they espie the enemie, the Captaine to cheere his men, cryeth Hungry, and they answere Heyre, and with that euery man placeth himselfe in order, for about euery target man three bowemen will