remedies and antidotes, which it were tedious to enumerate.  They are subject to different sanguineous and phlegmatic humours, occasioned by the nature of their food, which consists of fish, with various roots, fruits, and herbs.  They use no meal of any kind of corns or other seeds; but their chief food is made from the root of a certain tree, which they bruise down into a tolerably good kind of meal.  This root is called by some jucha, by others chambi, and by others igname.  They scarcely eat of any kind of flesh except that of men, in the use of which they exceed every thing that is brutal and savage among mankind; devouring their enemies, whether slain or taken prisoners, both men and women indiscriminately, in the most ferocious manner that can be conceived.  I have often seen them employed in this brutal feast, and they expressed surprize that we did not eat our enemies as they did.  All this your majesty may be assured is absolutely true; and that their customs are so many and barbarous, it were tedious to describe them all.  Having seen many things during my four voyages exceedingly different from our manners and customs, I have composed a book in which all these are particularly described, but which I have not yet published.

In this beginning of our course along the coast, we did not discover any thing from which any great profit could be derived, probably because we did not understand the language of the natives, except that we observed several indications that gold was to be found in this country, which in all other repects is most admirably situated.  It was therefore agreed upon to continue our voyage, always keeping as near as possible to the shore, which occasioned us to make many tacks and circuits, keeping up frequent intercourse with the natives as we proceeded.  After several days sailing, we arrived at a certain port, where it pleased God to rescue us from very imminent danger.  Immediately on entering this harbour; we descried a town built in the water, as Venice is, consisting of about twenty large bell-shaped houses, founded on solid wooden foundations, and having draw-bridges by which the inhabitants could pass from house to house.  As soon as the inhabitants of this place saw us they drew up their bridges for security, and retreated into their houses.  Soon afterwards we perceived twelve almadias or canoes, each of them hollowed out of the trunk of a large tree, which advanced towards us, surrounding us on all sides at some distance, their crews admiring our dress and appearance.  We likewise continued looking at them, endeavouring by friendly signs to make them come towards us without fear, which however they declined.  We therefore steered towards them, on which they all hastened to land, giving us to understand that they would soon return.  They went in all haste to a certain mountain, from whence they brought sixteen girls, whom they took into their canoes, and brought towards us, putting four of them on board