0010

A Fortified Village

The Indians build their fortified villages in this way: they choose a site near the channel of a swift stream, which they level as evenly as possible. Then they dig a circular ditch around it, into which they drive thick, round palings, placed close together, to a height twice that of a man. This fencing is carried to a point beyond its beginning, spiralwise, making a narrow entrance and admitting not more than two persons at a time. The course of the stream is diverted towards this entrance, and at each end of if a small guardhouse is built.

The sentinels in these guardhouses have a highly developed sense of small. They can detect enemies at a great distance. As soon as they smell them, they follow the scent, and when they discover the disturbers of their peace, they set up a clamor, thus summoning warriors from the town, armed with bows, arrows, and clubs.

The chief's house stands in the center of the enclosure and is somewhat sunken into the ground to avoid the hear of the sun. It is surrounded by those of the principal men. The roofs of these huts are only lightly thatched with palm branches, since they are occupied for not more than nine months in the year, the other three winter months--as I have already said--being spent in the forests. When they return from the woods, they go back to their old homes--if the enemy has not burnt them down while they were away. When this happens, they erect new huts, using the same kind of materials.

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