low that nothing they
can do, can make them lower, it is not unusual with them to lay with
their Daughters, or for the Son to lay with his Mother, as if there
were no Consanguinity among them.

[A Punishment to deliver Noble Women to these Beggars.] Many times
when the King cuts off Great and Noble Men, against whom he is
highly incensed, he will deliver their Daughters and Wives unto
this sort of People, reckoning it, as they also account it, to be
far worse Punishment than any kind of Death. This kind of Punishment
being accounted such horrible Cruelty, the King doth usually of his
Clemency shew them some kind of Mercy, and pittying their Distress,
Commands to carry them to a River side, and there to deliver them
into the hands of those, who are far worse than the Executioners of
Death: from whom, if these Ladies please to free themselves, they
are permitted to leap into the River and be drowned; the which some
sometimes will choose to do, rather than to consort with them.

[Some of these Beggars keep Cattle and shoot Deer.] There are some
of this sort of People which dwell in remote Parts, distant from any
Towns, and keep Cattle, and sell them to the Chingulayes, also shoot
Deer and sell them where they fall in the Woods; for if they should
but touch them, none would buy them.

[Refuse Meat dressed in a Barbar's house.] The Barbar's Information
having been the occasion of all this misery upon this People, they in
revenge there of abhor to eat what is dressed in the Barbar's House
even to this day.

CHAP. III.

Of their Religion, Gods, Temples, Priests.

To take a more particular view of the state of this Countrey, we shall
first give some account of their Religion, as it justly requires the
first place, and then of their other secular concerns.

Under their Religion will come to be considered, Their Gods, their
Temples, their Priests, their Festivals, Sacrifices, and Worship,
and their Doctrines and Opinions; and whatsoever other matters occur,
that may concern this Subject.

[Their Religion, their gods.] The Religion of the Countrey is
Idolatry. There are many both Gods and Devils, which they worship,
known by particular Names, which they call them by. They do acknowledge
one to be the Supreme, whom they call Ossa polla maupt Dio, which
signifieth the Creator of Heaven and Earth; and it is he also, who
still ruleth and governeth the same. This great Supreme God, they hold,
sends forth other De