From the Isle of Misfortune to this land, all the Indians we encountered
have the custom of not sleeping with their wives from the time they
first notice they are pregnant until the child is two-years old. The
children nurse at the breast until they are twelve years old, when they can
look for food for themselves. When we asked them why they brought them
up this way, they replied it was because of the great hunger in that land.
When we were there, we saw them go two or three, sometimes even four
days without food. For this reason they let them nurse, so that they won't
die in times of hunger. Even if some should survive those times, they would
end up sickly and very weak. If any fall sick, they leave him to die in the
wilderness, if he is not their child. If any cannot keep up with them, they
are left behind. But they will carry a son or a brother on their backs.

All these people have the custom of leaving their wives when there is
a disagreement between husband and wife, and then they marry whomever
they please. This is among childless men, because those who have children
remain with their wives and do not leave them. In some villages when they
quarrel and have disputes among themselves, they punch and hit one another
until they are tired and then they separate. Sometimes women separate them
by coming between them; the men will not do this. No matter how heated
the fight, they never resort to the bow and arrow. After they have finished
punching each other, they take their lodges and their wives and go to live in
the wilderness, away from the others until their anger has subsided. When
their anger and wrath have gone, they return to their village and thereafter
the two parties are friends and behave as if nothing had happened. It is not
necessary for anyone to help them reconcile, because they do it themselves.
If the men who quarrel are not married, they go away to other neighboring
groups, who, even if they are their enemies, receive them well and are pleased
to see them. They give them part of what they have; and so when their anger
has subsided, they return to their village as rich men.

All these people wage war. They are as astute in guarding themselves

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