America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld: Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, BesOgilby, John
History
America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the Nevv VVorld: Containing the Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages Thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. Also Their Cities, Fortresses, Towns, Temples, Mountains, and Rivers. Their Habits, Customs, Manners, and Religions. Their Plants, Beasts, Birds, and Serpents. With an Appendix, Containing, Bes
Ogilby, John
America
those Parts, they daily fall from his Colours, relinquishing their
former Fopperies, and acknowledge the Power of the _English_-man’s God,
as they call him. And it is reported of them, that at the very first
they were so tractable to the _Christian_ Religion, that they would say
King _James_ was good, and his God good, but their _Tanto_ nought,
though of their two Gods he was accounted the good one.
[Sidenote: Of their Wars.]
They use no other Weapons in War than Bowes and Arrows, saving that
their Captains have long Spears, on which, if they return Conquerors,
they carry the Heads of their chief Enemies that they slay in the Wars,
it being the Custom to cut off their Heads, Hands and Feet, to bear home
to their Wives and Children, as true tokens of their renowned Victory.
When they go to their Wars, it is their Custom to paint their Faces with
diversity of Colours, some being all black as Jet, some red, some half
red and half black, some black and white, others spotted with divers
kinds of Colours, being all disguis’d to their Enemies, to make them
more terrible to their Foes, putting on likewise their rich Jewels,
Pendents, and _Wampompeage_, to put them in mind that they Fight not
onely for their Children, Wives and Lives, but likewise for their Goods,
Lands and Liberties. Being thus Arm’d with this Warlike Paint, the
antique Warriors make towards their Enemies in a disorder’d manner,
without any Soldier-like Marching, or Warlike Postures, being deaf to
any word of Command, ignorant of falling off or on, of doubling Ranks or
Files, but let flie their winged Shaftsmen without either fear or wit:
Their Artillery being spent, he that hath no Arms to Fight, finds Legs
to run away.
[Sidenote: Their Games and Sports of Activity.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account