Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-18
THE TAIL PIECE.

But where the above mentioned angle
of the land showed to us turning OF
the shore toward the south, we agreed
to sail beyond it, and search out 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 tho 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 80 degs. higher than their horizon,
and we were near to the antarctic circle,
as far as the latitude Of 1T degs., 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, I will speak
of later.
First, then, as to 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 even
rs they come into the world 80 do they
go unto the time Of their death.
For they have large bodies with figures
square and shoulders well proportioned,
and color bordering on redness, which
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 a 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 or as large as they
are. For have seen some of them who
had in their face alone seven holes, any
one of which was as large rs o 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
ing white bone and other substances,
skillfully carved according to their GUS
tom. But if you could see anything 80
strange and monstrous-a man, forsooth,
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 astonishment; for oftentimes
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, and this
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 no,
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 tn,
first man the first woman wherever ht
meets her. AS often as they wish they
break up their marriages, and in thes'
matters observe no rule. Moreover, they
have no temple and no law, nor are the,
idolators. What can say more? The,
! live according to nature, and may b
called epicuresns rather than stoics