The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-19
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THE TAIL PIECE.

But where the above mentioned angle
of the land showed to us a turning Of
the shore toward the south, we agreed
TO sail beyond it, and search ont what
might be in those regions. We pro-
ceeded along the coast about six hundred
leagues, and often disembarked on the
land and talked and conversed with the
inhabitants Of those regions, and by
them were received kindly, and by them
selves, whenever we would remain
fifteen or twenty days together, were
amicably and Hospitality entertained, as
you will learn below.
A part Of this new continent is in the
torrid zone, beyond the equinoctial line
(equator) toward the antarctic pole, for
the head Of it begins in the eighth degree
beyond the eQuinoctial line equator
itself. We sailed along SO much Of this
coast. that the tropic Of Capricorn hav-
ing been passed, we found the antarctic
pole so degs. higher than their horizon,
and we were near TO the antarctic circle,
as far as the latitude Of ~ dogs, and
what there ! saw and learned concern
ing the character, habits and tractability
Of those races, the fertility Of the soil,
the salubriousness of the air, and the ar
rangement of the heavenly bodies, and
especially concerning the fixed stars, and
the eight spheres never before seen or
considered by our ancestors. / will sneak
Of later.
First, then, as 10 the peoples so far as
we came upon the multitude Of the race
in those regions so great that no man
could count them, as we read in
the Apocalypse. call the race gentle
and tractable. All members Of both
races approach each other naked and
covering no part Of the body, and evNi
as they come into the world 50 do they
20 unto the time Of their death.
For they have large bodies with figures
square and shoulders well proportioned,
and a color bordering on redness, which
l think happens TO them because from
going about naked they are tanned with
the sun. They have thick, black hair
In their gait especially in their sports,
they are agile and easy, and of comely
countenance, which, however, they mar,
for they pierce the cheeks, the lips the
nose and the ear; nor would you think
these holes TO be small oras large as they
are. For l have seen some of them who
had in their face alone seven holes, any
one Of which was as large as a small
plum. They stop up these holes with
pieces Of crystal resembling marble and
bits of alabaster. which pieces are very
beautiful. and also with bits Of glitter
inc white bone and other substances,
skillfnlly carved according TO their Gus
tom. But if you could see anything so
strange and mOnstrous-a man, forso0th,
having in his cheeks and in his lips
seven stones, some Of them half as long
again as your hand, you would not be
without establishment; for oitenumes
have considered and thought that seven
such stones would weigh sixteen ounces
and more. In each ear, pierced with
three holes, they are accustomed to carry
other pendant stones in rings, ana TINS
custom is peculiar to the men, for the
women do not perforate the face, but
only the ears.
They do not have garments or cloaks
Linen or silk-because they are not
necessary to them, nor do they possess
individual property, but all things are
owned in common. They live at the same
time without king, without govern
ment, and each man is law unto HIM
self They have as many wives as they
please, and the son marries his mother
and the brother with his sister, and the
first man the first woman wherever he
meets her. As often as they wish they
break up their marriages, and in these
matters observe no rule. Moreover, they
have no temple and no law, nor are they
idolators. What can say mores They
live according TO nature, and may be
called epicureans rather than stolcs
Among them there are no traders nor Is
there any exchange Of goods The tribes
carry on war among themselves without
art or recognized rules. The elders IN
certain public assemblies Of their own