e. Journeying through this
Southern Sea for forty days more or less, without seeing land, at the
end of that time, the islands of Velas ["Sails"], otherwise called the
Ladrones, are sighted, which, seven or eight in number, extend north
and south. They are inhabited by many people, as we shall now relate.

_Islands of Velas, or Ladrones._ These islands lie in twelve degrees
of latitude. Opinions differ as to the distance in leagues between
them and the port of Acapulco, for up to the present no one has been
enabled to ascertain it with certainty, by navigation from east to
west, and no one has been able to measure the degrees. Some assert
the distance of this voyage to be one thousand seven hundred leagues,
others one thousand eight hundred. The opinion of the former is held
to be more nearly correct. All of these islands are inhabited by
light-complexioned people, of pleasing and regular features, like
those of Europe; although in their bodies they do not resemble the
latter--for they are as large as giants, and of so great strength,
that it has actually happened that one of them, while standing on the
ground, has laid hold of two Spaniards of good stature, seizing each of
them by one foot with his hands, and lifting them thus as easily as if
they were two children. Both men and women are naked from head to foot,
although some of the women wear bits of deerskin of about one-half a
vara in length, tied about the waist, for decency's sake; but those
who wear them are very few compared with those who do not. The weapons
used by them consist of slings, and darts hardened by fire, both of
which they throw very deftly. They live on fish, which they catch
alongshore, and on wild beasts, which they kill in the mountains,
pursuing them afoot. There is in these islands the strangest custom
ever seen or heard of anywhere. A time-limit is imposed for the youth
to marry, in accordance with their custom; and during all this period
they are allowed to enter freely into the houses of the married, and
to remain with the women, without receiving any punishment therefor,
even if the very husbands of the women should see it. These youths
carry a club in the hand, and when one enters the house of married
people, he leaves this club at the door, in such a position that
those arriving may easily see it. This is a sign that no one may enter
until the club is taken away, although it be the husband himself. They
observe this custom with so grea