A Book of American ExplorersHigginson, Thomas Wentworth
History
A Book of American Explorers
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth
America -- Discovery and exploration; United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
At length, in spite of their advice, I prevailed upon them to take me
in their canoes to the upper part of the river, until I reached the
villages of the Indians, whom I had found in order of battle. They,
however, would not, at first, allow me to go to the principal residence
of the cacique, till I pretended that I was come as a surgeon to cure
him of a wound that he had in his leg. Then, after making them some
presents, they suffered me to proceed to the seat of royalty, which was
situated on the top of a hillock, surmounted by a plain, with a large
square surrounded by three hundred heads of the enemies he had slain
in battle. When I had passed through the square, and reached the royal
house, there was a great clamor of women and children at the gate, who
ran into the palace screaming. Upon this, one of the chief’s sons came
out in a high passion, uttering angry words in his own language; and
laying hands upon me, with one push he thrust me far away from him. In
order to appease him, I told him I was come to cure the wound in his
father’s leg, and showed him an ointment that I had brought for that
purpose; but he replied, that on no account whatever should I go in
to the place where his father was. When I saw that I had no chance of
appeasing him in that way, I took out a comb, a pair of scissors, and a
mirror, and caused Escobar, my companion, to comb my hair, and then cut
it off. When the Indian, and those who were with him, saw this, they
stood in astonishment; upon which I prevailed on him to suffer his own
hair to be combed and cut by Escobar. I then made him a present of the
scissors, with the comb and the mirror; and thus he became appeased.
After this, I begged him to allow some food to be brought, which was
soon done; and we ate and drank in love and good-fellowship, like very
good friends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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