surprise, they did not take the diamond which was sewed up in leather
from off my neck; but as I learnt subsequently, the Indians are much
given to conjurors and charms, wearing many round their own necks and
about their persons, and they respect the charms that their enemies
wear, indeed are afraid of them, lest they should be harmed by having
them in their possession. We remained in a wigwam during that day,
with guards over us. The following day we were led out and cast loose,
and we found all the Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines,
each holding in their hands a club or stick, or rod of some
description or another.

We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in amazement.
They made signs to us which we did not understand, and while we were
remaining in doubt as to what was to be our fate, an old woman, who
had been menacing and grinning at me for some time, and who was the
most hideous animal that I ever beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust
a straw into my eye, giving me most excruciating agony. I was so
carried away by rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the
stomach, which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be
scalped for so doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians
laughed, while some of the other women dragged her away.

At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we had to
run the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large lodge
where we had been examined by the old Indians on the day previous, we
were safe, and that we must run for that as fast as we could. The
Portuguese, who was still as mad as ever, was then pushed on; he would
not run, but walked, glorying in the blows, which showered down upon
him like hail; and, moreover, he prevented me from running for some
time, till I got past him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad
with pain, when I perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a
heavy club. Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and
as I passed I threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting him
under the right ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he never
rose again, for the blow killed him; after which I at last gained the
council-house, and was soon afterwards followed by my companion, who
was streaming with blood. We were then led away, and tied by our necks
to two stakes about twenty yards apart, and there we remained for the
night.

The Portuguese passed the night in s