The Whole and True Discouerye of Terra Florida by Jean Ribault
mannour to parle* and bargayn sitting, and the
chef of them to be aparte from the meaner sorte,
with a shewe of great obedyence to there kinges,
superyours, and elders. They be all naked and of
a goodly stature, mighty, faire and aswell shapen
and proportioned of bodye as any people in all
the worlde, very gentill, curtious and of a good
nature.
The most parte of them cover their raynes and
pryvie partes with faire hartes skins, paynted cun-
ynglyf with sondry collours, and the fore parte
of there bodye and armes paynted with pretye
devised workes of azure, redd, and black, so well
and so properly don as the best paynter of Eu-
rope could not amend yt. The wemen have there
bodies covered || with a certen herbe like unto
moste,§ wherof the cedertrees and all other trees
be alwaies covered. The men for pleasure do all-
wayes tryme themselves therwith, after sundry
fasshions. They be of tawny collour, hawke nosed
and of a pleasaunt countenaunce. The women be
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* P., talke. f P., moste commonly e.
|| V., paynted. § P. } mosse.
[…] Ribault’s account of his first trip to La Florida entitled “The True Discouerie of Terra Florrida” includes many clues that help pinpoint locations that would be helpful in finding the true […]