Page 433
An.1687
The Manners of the Basheans.
to dig Yames and Potatoes ; of which they bring home on their heads every day enough to serve the whole family : for they have no Rice nor Maiz.
Their Plantations are in the Valleys, at a good distance from their Houses : where every man has a certain spot of Land, which is properly his own. This he manageth himself for his own use; and provides enough, that he may not be beholding to his neighbour.
Notwithstanding the seeming nastiness of their Dish of Goats Maw, they are in their Persons a very neat cleanly people, both Men and Women: And they are withal the quietest and civilest people that I did ever meet with. I could never perceive them to be angry with one another. I have admired to see 20 or 30 Boats aboard our Ship at a time, and yet no difference among them ; but all civil and quiet, endeavouring to help each other on occasi- on: No noise, nor appearance of distaste : and al- though sometimes cross accidents would happen, which might have set other men together by the ears, yet they were not moved by them. Some- times they will also drink freely, and warm them- selves with their drink ; yet neither then could I ever perceive them out of humour. They are not only thus civil among themselves, but very obliging and kind to strangers : nor were their Children rude to us, as is usual. Indeed the Women, when we came to their houses, would modestly beg any Rags, or small pieces of Cloath, to swaddle their young ones in ; holding out their Children to us: and begging is usual among all these wild Nations. Yet neither did they beg so importunately as in other places ; nor did the Men ever beg any thing at all. Neither, except once at the first time that we came to an Anchor, (as I shall relate) did they steal any thing ; but deal justly, and with great sincerity with us; and make us very welcome to their
goat maw: stomach of a goat
importunately: persistently to the point of being annoying