Caesar had a mind to see and
talk with their war-captains, and we were conducted to one of their
houses; where we beheld several of the great captains, who had been at
council: but so frightful a vision it was to see 'em, no fancy can
create; no sad dreams can represent so dreadful a spectacle. For my
part, I took 'em for hobgoblins, or fiends, rather than men: but
however their shapes appeared, their souls were very humane and noble;
but some wanted their noses, some their lips, some both noses and
lips, some their ears, and others cut through each cheek, with long
slashes, through which their teeth appeared: they had several other
formidable wounds and scars, or rather dismemberings. They had
comitias, or little aprons before 'em; and girdles of cotton, with
their knives naked stuck in it; a bow at their back, and a quiver of
arrows on their thighs; and most had feathers on their heads of divers
colors. They cried Amora Tiguamy to us, at our entrance, and were
pleased we said as much to them: they seated us, and gave us drink
of the best sort, and wondered as much as the others had done
before, to see us. Caesar was marveling as much at their faces,
wondering how they should all be so wounded in war; he was impatient
to know how they all came by those frightful marks of rage or
malice, rather than wounds got in noble battle. They told us by our
interpreter that when any war was waging, two men, chosen out by
some old captain whose fighting was past, and who could only teach the
theory of war, were to stand in competition for the generalship, or
great war-captain; and being brought before the old judges, now past
war, they are asked, What they dare do, to show they are worthy to
lead an army? When he who is first asked, making no reply, cuts off
his nose, and throws it contemptibly on the ground; and the other does
something to himself that he thinks surpasses him, and perhaps
deprives himself of lips and an eye: so they slash on till one gives
out, and many have died in this debate.
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