this
harbor we were eight days on account of the loss of the said captain."

They found great quantities of human bones on shore, and skulls hanging
like pots or cups about the houses. They saw few men. The women said
that this was because ten canoes had gone on a robbing or kidnapping
expedition to other islands. "This people," says Doctor Chanca,
"appeared to us more polite than those who live in the other islands
we have seen, though they all have straw houses." But he goes on to say
that these houses are better made and provided, and that more of both
men's and women's work appeared in them. They had not only plenty of
spun and unspun cotton, but many cotton mantles, "so well woven that
they yield in nothing (or owe nothing) to those of our country."

When the women, who had been found captives, were asked who the people
of the island were, they replied that they were Caribs. "When they heard
that we abhorred such people for their evil use of eating men's flesh,
they rejoiced much." But even in the captivity which all shared, they
showed fear of their old masters.

"The customs of this people, the Caribs," says Dr. Chanca, "are
beastly;" and it would be difficult not to agree with him, in spite of
the "politeness" and comparative civilization he has spoken of.

They occupied three islands, and lived in harmony with each other, but
made war in their canoes on all the other islands in the neighborhood.
They used arrows in warfare, but had no iron. Some of them used
arrow-heads of tortoise shell, others sharply toothed fish-bones, which
could do a good deal of damage among unarmed men. "But for people of our
nation, they are not arms to be feared much."

These Caribs carried off both men and women on their robbing
expeditions. They slaughtered and ate the men, and kept the women as
slaves; they were, in short, incredibly cruel. Three of the captive boys
ran away and joined the Spaniards.

They had twice sent out expeditions after the lost captain, Diego
Marquez, and another party had returned without news of him, on the
very day on which he and his men came in. They brought with them ten
captives, boys and women. They were received with great joy. "He and
those that were with him, arrived so DESTROYED BY THE MOUNTAIN, that
it was pitiful to see them. When they were asked how they had lost
themselves, they said that it was the thickness of the trees, so
great that they could not see the sky, and that some of them