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CHAP. II.
Of CVMANA.
CVMANA is a Prouince named of a Riuer, called Cumana, a 1.1 where certaine Franciscans, Anno 1516, built them a Monasterie, and the Spaniards were very diligent in the fishing for Pearles. About b 1.2 that time three Dominicans went fourescore myles West from thence to preach the Gospell, and were eaten of the Indians, which hindered not, but others of the same Order founded them a Monasterie in Ciribici, neere Maracapana. Both these Orders tooke paines with the Indians to conuert them, and taught their children to write and reade, and to answere at Masse, and the Spaniards were so respected, that they might safely walke alone through all the Countrey: but after two yeres and a halfe, the Indians, whether for their too much imployment in the Pearle-fishing, or for other cause, rebelled, and killed a hundred Spaniards, slew the Friers, one of which was then saying Masse, and as many Indi∣ans as they found with them; which the Spaniards of Domingo soone after re∣uenged.
The losse c 1.3 of Cumana hindered their Trade for Pearles at Cubagua, and there∣fore the King sent Iames Castilion to subdue them by force: which he did, and began the Plantation of New Caliz, for the Spaniards to inhabite there. Cubagua was called by Columbus, the Finder, the Island of Pearles, situate in twelue degrees and a halfe of Northerly latitude, and containes twelue myles in circuit. This little Island is exceeding great in commoditie, that accreweth by those pearles, which hath a∣mounted to diuerse millions of Gold. They fetch their Wood from Margarita, an Island foure myles to the North; and their Water from Cumana, which is two and twentie myles thence: they haue a Spring of medicinall Water there in the Island. The Sea there, at certaine times of the yeare, is very redde, which those Pearle-oysters by some naturall purgation are said to cause. There are Fishes, or Sea-monsters, which from the middle vpwards resemble men, with Beards, Haire, and Armes. The d 1.4 peo∣ple of Cumana goe naked, couering onely their shame. At Feasts and Daunces they paint themselues, or else annoint themselues with a certaine Gumme, in which they sticke feathers of many colours. They cut their haire aboue the eares, and will not suffer it to grow on any places of their bodies, esteeming a bearded man a Beast: They take great paines to make their teeth blacke, and account them women, which haue them white. They blacke them with the poulder of the leaues of a certaine Tree called Gay; these leaues they chew, after they are fifteene yeares olde; they mixe that poulder with another of a kinde of Wood, and with Chalke of white shells burned, in manner as the Easterne Indians vse their Betele and Arecca, with Chalke of Oy∣sters: and this mixture they beare continually in their mouthes, still chewing it, that their teeth are as blacke as coales, and so continue to their death. They keepe it in Baskets and Boxes, and sell it in the Markets to some, which come farre for it, for Gold, Slaues, Cotton, and other Merchandise. This keepeth them from paine, and rotting of the teeth. The maids goe naked, onely they binde certaine bands hard a∣bout their knees, to make their hippes and thighes seeme thicke, which they esteeme no small beautie. The married women liue honestly, or else their husbands will di∣uorce them. The chiefe men haue as many wiues as they will; and, if any stran∣ger come to lodge in one of their houses, they make the fairest his bed-fellow, These also shut vp their daughters two yeares before they marrie them, all which time they goe not forth, nor cut their haire: After which, there is made a great Feast, and very many bidden, which bring their varietie of cheare, and also Wood to make the new Spouse a house: A man cuts off the Bridegroomes haire be∣fore, and a woman the Brides, and then eate and drinke, with much excesse, till night.