PYGMEI;
Pigmies; they were a People that dwelt in the Mountains of the East-Indies, according to Pliny; and according to Strabo, in the utmost Parts of Affrica; the People of that Country were not above a Cubit high; and hence they gave them the Name of Pigmies: They did not live above Eight Years, and the Women were fit for Copulation at Five. As soon as their Children are born, they hid them in Caves, for fear of the Cranes, who swallow'd them down whole like small Turnips: They are very temperate, and 'tis a great deal for one of them to eat the Leg of a Lark; for usually they roast no more than two or three Bits at a time, or a little more as their Family is larger or smal∣ler: Their Spits are made of the Prickles of an Hedge-hog; but the largest sort on which they roast their Larks, are the Darts or Quills of a Porcupine: They drink out of small Cups made of Cherry-stones; and their Drink consists of two or three Drops of Rose-water; which they gather in the Spring, and keep the Liquor in Ostridge Egg-shells, which serves them instead of other Vessels: Their Plates are made of Crab-shells, the finest of which are those which are most gilt; and their Dishes consist of small Acorn-Cups. Its from this Country the Dwarf-Trees come; for all their Forests are but Bushes, which Nature has made on purpose, that they may not break their Necks in climbing up. They have also Vines growing there, which they love, because they believe they creep upon the Ground only, in Consideration of their Weak∣ness: They are well proportioned, considering their low Stature; and laugh at us upon ac∣count of the Danger we run when we fall: They are at an irreconcilable War with the Cranes, who with a Stroak of their Bills pierce to their very Brains; but they break their Legs, which are very small, and get under them in the Conffict.