ur several
lodgings, and three fires, one in the midst, and one at each end of
every house: so that the room was most temperately warm, and nothing
annoyed with smoke, partly by reason of the nature of the wood which
they use to burn, yielding very little smoke, partly by reason of their
artificial making of it: as firing the wood cut in length like our
billets at the ends, and joining them together so close, that though no
flame or fire did appear, yet the heat continued without intermission.

Near many of the rivers where we stayed or lodged, we found sundry
sorts of fruits, which we might use with great pleasure and safety
temperately: Mammeas, Guayvas, Palmitos, Pinos, Oranges, Lemons, and
divers other; from eating of which they dissuaded us in any case, unless
we eat very few of them, and those first dry roasted, as Plantains,
Potatoes, and such like.

In journeying, as oft as by chance they found any wild swine, of which
those hills and valleys have store, they would ordinarily, six at a
time, deliver their burdens to the rest of their fellows, pursue,
kill and bring away after us, as much as they could carry, and time
permitted. One day as we travelled, the Cimaroons found an otter, and
prepared it to be drest: our Captain marvelling at it, PEDRO, our chief
Cimaroon, asked him, "Are you a man of war, and in want; and yet doubt
whether this be meat, that hath blood?"

Herewithal our Captain rebuked himself secretly, that he had so slightly
considered of it before.

The third day of our journey (6th February), they brought us to a town
of their own, seated near a fair river, on the side of a hill, environed
with a dyke of eight feet broad, and a thick mud wall of ten feet high,
sufficient to stop a sudden surpriser. It had one long and broad street,
lying east and west, and two other cross streets of less breadth and
length: there were in it some five or six and fifty households; which
were kept so clean and sweet, that not only the houses, but the very
streets were very pleasant to behold. In this town we saw they lived
very civilly and cleanly. For as soon as we came thither, they washed
themselves in the river; and changed their apparel, as also their women
do wear, which was very fine and fitly made somewhat after the Spanish
fashion, though nothing so costly. This town is distant thirty-five
leagues from Nombre de Dios and forty-five from Panama. It is
plentifully stored with many sorts of beasts and fowl,