making them stand with a weight on their Backs, until
they do pay such a Sum of Money as is demanded: which for ordinary
faults may be five or ten Shillings. So the Punishment which is
inflicted upon Women, is to make them stand with a Basket of Sand
upon their Heads, so long as they shall think fitting, who appoint
the Punishment. Punishment by stripes is never used either to Men or
Women, but only to those on whom the King Commands them to be laid.

[Privileges of Women.] Lands of Inheritance which belong to Women
are exempted from paying Harriots to the King. Women pay no Custom
for things they carry to the Sea-Ports. Neither is any Custom paid
for what is carried upon any Female Cattel, Cow or Buffalo.

[They often destroy new born Infants.] They have no Midwives, but
the neighbouring good Women come in and do that Office. As soon as
the Child is born, the Father or some Friend apply themselves to an
Astrologer to enquire, whether the Child be born in a prosperous
Planet, and a good hour or in an evil. If it be found to be in an
evil they presently destroy it, either by starving it, letting it
lye and die, or by drowning it, putting its head into a Vessel of
water, or by burying it alive, or else by giving it to some body of
the same degree with themselves; who often will take such Children,
and bring them up by hand with Rice and Milk; for they say, the Child
will be unhappy to the Parents, but to none else. We have asked them
why they will deal so with their poor Infants, that come out of their
Bowels. They will indeed have a kind of regret and trouble at it. But
they will say withal, Why should I bring up a Devil in my House? For
they believe, a Child born in an ill hour, will prove a plague and
vexation to his Parents by his disobedience and untowardliness.

[But seldom a First-born.] But it is very rare that a First-born
is served so. Him they love and make much of. But when they come to
have many, then usual it is, by the pretence of the Childs being born
under an unlucky Planet, to kill him. And this is reputed no fault,
and no Law of the Land takes cognizance of it.

[Their Names.] In their Infancy they have Names, whereby one may
be called and distinguished from the other. But when they come to
years it is an affront and shame to them either Men or Women, to be
called by those Names. Which they say is to be like unto Dogs. Then
they change their Names into Titles according to the Town wherein
they were