FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36  
37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   >>   >|  
Chilihueque, of the camel genus, vulgarly called Peruvian sheep.--E.] Most of the natives of this country were dressed in the skins of beasts, similarly to the one who first visited them. Their hair was short, yet tied up by a cotton lace or string. They had no fixed dwellings, but used certain moveable huts or tents, constructed of skins similar to those in which they were cloathed, which they carry with them from place to place, as they roam about the country. What flesh they are able to procure, they devour quite raw without any kind of cookery, besides which their chief article of food is a sweet root, which they name _capar._ The voyagers report that these savages were very jealous of their women; yet do not mention having seen any. Their practice of physic consists in bleeding and vomiting: The former being performed by giving a good chop with some edge tool to the part affected; and the latter is excited by thrusting an arrow half a yard down the throat of the patient. These people, to whom Magellan gave the name of _Patagons_, are so strong, that when one only was attempted to be made prisoner of by nine Spaniards, he tired them all; and, though they got him down, and even bound his hands, he freed himself from his bonds, and got away, in spite of every endeavour to detain him. Besides _capar_, the name of a root already mentioned, and which likewise they applied to the bread or ship's biscuit given them by the Spaniards, the only words reported of their language are _ali_ water, _amel_ black, _cheiche_ red, _cherecai_ red cloth; and _Setebos_ and _Cheleule_ are the names of two beings to whom they pay religious respect, _Setebos_ being the supreme, and _Cheleule_ an inferior deity. The haven in which they remained there five months, was named by Magellan, Port St Julian, of which and the surrounding country they took solemn possession for the crown of Spain, erecting a cross as a signal of sovereignty. But the principal reason of this long stay was in consequence of a mutiny which broke out, not only among the common men, but was even joined or fomented rather by some of the captains, particularly by Don Luis de Mendoza, on whom Magellan had placed great reliance. On this occasion Magellan acted with much spirit; for, having reduced the mutineers to obedience, he brought their ringleaders to trial for plotting against his life; hanged Don Luis de Mendoza and a few others of the most culpable; leaving Don Ju
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36  
37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Magellan

 

country

 
Setebos
 
Cheleule
 
Mendoza
 

Spaniards

 

Besides

 

religious

 

respect

 

likewise


applied

 

supreme

 

remained

 

inferior

 

mentioned

 
detain
 

endeavour

 
reported
 

language

 
cheiche

cherecai

 

biscuit

 
beings
 

erecting

 

occasion

 

spirit

 

mutineers

 

reduced

 

reliance

 

captains


obedience

 
brought
 

culpable

 

leaving

 

hanged

 

ringleaders

 

plotting

 

fomented

 

possession

 

signal


solemn

 

Julian

 

surrounding

 

sovereignty

 

common

 

joined

 
mutiny
 
reason
 
principal
 

consequence