Page 280 - Lanzarotto Malocello from Italy to the Canary Islands

280 from Italy to the Canary Islands

continually again.
Turning around the island, from each side they saw the same thing hap-
pen, believing that to be by virtue of a spell, they did not dare to set foot
on it.
Many other things they found that said Niccoloso he would not tell.
Apparently, those islands are not rich, so much so that the sailors could
barely recover the costs of provisions for the journey. The four males they
brought back were adolescents of comely countenance and wore breeches
made as follows: around the loins they had a cord from which hang thick
rows of palm leaves, or reeds one and a half to two hands long at the
most, by which they covered their shames front and back, unless the wind
or other blew them up; they do not cut their hair, which is blond and long
almost down to the navel; they cover themselves with it, and walk barefoot.
The island from where they were taken is named Canaria, the most popu-
lated of them all; nor can they understand any language, several having
been spoken to them; they are not taller than us; they have powerful limbs,
are spirited and strong, with great intelligence, as one may judge. They
speak among them through gestures, and through gestures they respond,
like mutes; they have respect for each other, but especially towards one of
them; the latter wears palm breeches, and the others wear reeds dyed yel-
low and red. They sing sweetly and dance almost as if they were French;
they are joyous and nimble, and much more amicable than many Spaniards
are.
Since getting onto the ship, they ate figs and bread, which they like a
lot, never having eaten it before; they refuse wine altogether, and drink
only water. They eat wheat and barley by the handful, cheese, and meat,
which they have good and plentiful; oxen, camels, donkeys they have none,
but many goats and sheep and boars. They were shown silver coins; they
do not know them, and neither do they know weapons of any kind. They
were shown gold necklaces, carved vases, sabres, swords of all sorts, it
seems that they have never seen nor had any of them; they also show to
have great trust and loyalty among them, as far as one can figure, mainly
because nothing edible was given to any one of them that he did not share
into equal portions with each of the others.
They use to get married and their married women wear breeches like
the men; however, the girls go about completely nude without feeling
ashamed. Like us, they have numbers by the ones and place them before
the tens like so: