0019

The Princes of Virginia

The princes of Virginia are attired in such a manner as is expressed in this figure. They wear the hair of their heads long and bind up the end in a knot under their ears. Yet they cut the top of their heads from the forehead to the nape of the neck in manner of a cockscomb, sticking a fair long feather of some bird at the beginning of the crest upon their foreheads, and another short one on both sides about their ears. They hang at their ears either thick pearls, or something else, as the claw of some great bird, as cometh into their fancy. Moreover they either pounce or paint their forehead, cheeks, chin, body, arms, and legs, yet in another manner than the inhabitants of Florida. They wear a chain about their necks of pearls or beads of copper, which they much esteem, and thereof wear they also bracelets on their arms. Under their breasts about their bellies appear certain spots, where they use to let themselves blood when they are sick. They hang before them the skin of some beast very finely dressed in such a way that the tail hangeth down behind. They carry a quiver make of small rushes, holding their bow ready bent in one hand and an arrow in the other, ready to defend themselves. In this manner they go to war, or to their solemn feasts and banquets. They take much pleasure in hunting of deer, whereof there is great store in the country, for it is fruitful, pleasant, and full of goodly woods. It hath also store of rivers full of divers sorts of fish. When they go to battle they paint their bodies in the most terrible manner that they can devise.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT