Page 479
An.1688
The Natives: their Language, Houses, &c.
their Eye-brows. I do believe it is pluckt up by the roots ; for the Men had Hair growing on their Eye-brows, as other People.
The Men go all naked save only a long narrow piece of cloath, or Sash, which going round their Wastes, and thence down between their Thighs, is brought up behind, and tuckt in at that part which goes about the Waste. The Women have a kind of a short Petticoat reaching from their Waste to their Knees.
Their Language was different from any that I had ever heard before ; yet they had some few Malayan words, and some of them had a word or two of Portuguese : which probably they might learn aboard of their Ships, passing by this place : for when these Men see a Sail they do presently go aboard of them in their Canoas. I did not per- ceive any Form of Religion that they had : they had neither Temple, nor Idol, nor any manner of outward veneration to any Deity, that I did see.
They inhabit all round the Island by the Sea fide, in the Bays ; there being 4 or 5 Houses, more or less, in each Bay. Their Houses are built on Posts, as the Mindanaoians are. They are small, low, and of a square form. There is but one Room in each House, and this Room is about 8 foot from the ground : and from thence the roof is raised about 8 foot higher. But instead of a sharp ridge, the top is exceeding neatly arched with small Rafters about the bigness of a Mans Arm, bent round like a Half-Moon, and very curiously thatched with Palmeto-leaves.
They live under no Government that I could perceive ; for they seem to be equal, without any distinction ; every Man ruling in his own House. Their Plantations are only those Coco-nut Trees which grow by the Sea side ; there being no cleared Land farther in on the Island: for I observ'd that when