taking possession of the islands they passed,
seems uncertain.

When Columbus discovered the islands, to which he gave the name of the
people, he had full evidence of their courage, ferocity, and cannibal
propensities. At the same time, they paid great attention to
agriculture, and brought home seeds and plants from the territories they
overran. They were in the habit of attacking; other islands and the
mainland, and carrying off the women as slaves; making prisoners of the
men, to be killed and eaten. Their arms were clubs, and bows and
poisoned arrows. Even the women were expert archers, and when their
husbands were away remained to defend their homes. The hair of these
savages was coarse and long--their eyes, surrounded with paint, giving
them a hideous expression; while their limbs were bound with bands of
cotton, causing them to swell out into disproportionate size where
unconfined. When attacked by the Spaniards, the men refused to be taken
alive, and the women defended themselves with the fiercest courage after
the death of their husbands.

In the British island of Saint Vincent several bands remained, who
devastated the plantations, and committed many atrocities,--especially
in the revolutionary war, when they were stirred up by the French. They
were removed by the British Government to the island of Ruatan, in the
Bay of Honduras, whence they emigrated to the neighbouring coast.
Meantime, they were extending their power on the Southern Continent, and
became the dominant race on the Orinoco and Essequibo, their excursions
reaching even to the provinces watered by the Amazon. Wherever they
appeared, the other tribes were driven for refuge to the mountains and
forests. They even ventured to attack the white settlers, and
endeavoured to drive out the Spaniards from the city of Valencia when
first established.

They incessantly attacked the natives on the banks of the Orinoco,
sometimes ascending that river in numerous canoes; at other times
crossing the highlands, and descending one or other of its tributaries,
they would come suddenly on their foes, never failing to exterminate all
who were their inferiors in power. They were, however, often fiercely
opposed by some other tribes, and vast numbers cut off. During the
fearful revolt of the negroes in the Dutch provinces, several tribes of
them were engaged by the Dutch Government to assist the whites. Making
their way through the forest, and concealin