La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

;488 APPENDIXcaravans, which consisted of more than three thousand oxen,laden with gold, and an equal number of horsemen, armedwith lances, bows, and daggers. They receive iron andsteel in exchange for their gold. The King has an army ofa hundred thousand men, of whom three fourths are cavalry.They have golden trumpets, with which they make veryindifferent music; and also golden drums, which, as well asthe drummer, are carried on the backs of oxen. The troopsare practised once a week in shooting at a target with arrowsand the King rewards the victor with one of his wives, orwith some honorable employment.These people are of a dark complexion and hideous tolook upon, because their faces are made long and narrow bypressing their heads between two boards in infancy. Thewomen, however, are as fair as in Europe; though, incommon with the men, their ears are enormously large. Allpersons of distinction among the Acanibas wear their fingernailsvery long. They are polygamists, and each mantakes as many wives as he wants. They are of a joyousdisposition, moderate drinkers, but great smokers. Theyentertained Sagean and his followers during five months withthe fat of the land; and any woman who refused a Frenchmanwas ordered to be killed. Six girls were put to deathwith daggers for this breach of hospitality. The King, beinganxious to retain his visitors in his service, offered Sageanone of his daughters, aged fourteen years, in marriage ; andwhen he saw him resolved to depart, promised to keep herfor him till he should return.The climate is delightful, and summer reigns throughoutthe year. The plains are full of birds and animals of allkinds, among which are many parrotsand monkeys, besidesthe wild cattle, with humps like camels, which thesepeople use as beasts of burden.King Hagaren would not let the Frenchmen go tillthey