Page 86
An.1683
His Reception of us.
with Flint, cut or grownd ; which I have feen and admired. But to return to our Moskito man on the Ifle of John Fernando. With fuch Inftruments as he made in that manner, he got fuch Provifion as the Ifland afforded ; either Goats or Fifh. He told us that at firft he was forced to eat Seal, which is ve- ry ordinary meat, before he had made Hooks : but afterwards he never kill'd any Seals but to make lines, cutting their skins into thongs. He had a little Houfe or Hut half a mile from the Sea, which was lined with Goats skin ; his Couch or Barbecu of fticks lying along about 2 foot diftant from the ground, was fpread with the fame, and was all his Bedding. He had no Cloaths left, having worn out thofe he brought from Watlin's Ship, but only a Skin about his Wafte. He faw our Ship the day before we came to an Anchor, and did believe we were Englifh, and therefore kill'd 3 Goats in the morning, before we came to an anchor, and dreft them with Cabbage, to treat us when we came a- fhore. He came then to the Sea fide to congratulate our fafe arrival. And when we landed, a Moskito Indian named Robin, firft leapt afhore, and running to his brother Moskito man, threw himfelf flat on his face at his feet; who helping him up and em- bracing him, fell flat with his face on the ground at Robins feet, and was by him taken up alfo. We ftood with pleafure to behold the furprize and ten- dernefs, and folemnity of this interview, which was exceedingly affectionate on both fides ; and when their ceremonies of civility were over, we alfo that ftood gazing at them drew near, each of us embracing him we had found here, who was over- joyed to fee fo many of his old friends come hither, as he thought, purpofely to fetch him. He was named Will, as the other was Robin. Thefe were names given them by the Englifh, for they have no names among themfelves ; and they take it as a great favour to be named