Page 326

An. 1686

Of the People of the Island.

black and straight, the colour of their Skin taw- ney, but inclining to a brighter yellow than some other Indians, especially the Women. They have a custom to wear their Thumb-nails very long, especially that on their left Thumb, for they do never cut it but scrape it often. They are indued with good natural Wits, are ingenious, nimble, and active, when they are minded ; but generally very lazy and thievish, and will not work except forc- ed by hunger. This laziness is natural to most Indians ; but these people's laziness seems rather, to proceed not so much from their natural inclinati- ons, as from the severity of their Prince, of whom they stand in great awe: For he dealing with them very arbitrarily, and taking from them what they get, this damps their industry, so they never strive to have any thing but from hand to mouth. They are generally proud, and walk very stately. They are civil enough to strangers, and will easily be acquainted with them, and entertain them with great freedom ; but they are implacable to their Enemies, and very revengeful if they are injured, frequently poisoning secretly those that have af- fronted them.

They wear but few Cloaths ; their Heads are circled with a short Turbat, fringed or laced at both ends ; it goes once about the head, and is tied in a knot, the laced ends hanging down. They wear Frocks and Breeches, but no Stockings nor Shooes.

The Women are fairer than the Men ; and their Hair is black and long: which they tie in a knot, that hangs back in their poles. They are more round visaged than the Men, and generally well featured ; only their Noses are very small, and so low between their Eyes, that in some of the Fe- male Children the rising that should be between the Eyes is scarce discernable; neither is there any sensible