1. They were anxious to lay hands on one of the Indians who were in sight, which they did; and Aguirre (giving him some hatchets and other things) made him understand by signs that he was to go to his companions, and tell them to come into the camp, and that no harm should come to them. So the Indian went, and shortly afterwards they sent two messengers, one was lame in the foot, the other in the hand, and his body bent on one side; and these, by signs, made known that the whole of the Indians would come in, and be friends.

But Aguirre's thoughts ran more upon Pirú, than upon making peace with these Indians; so he did not think it worthwhile to await their coming, or else he considered that they had not been prudent in sending the two Indians away, who would report what they had seen, and the natives in large numbers might come and attack them; for all around was a high plain free from marshes, being an open savanna, surrounded by a forest of cork-trees (alcornocales claros).

The Indians here are naked, and they use the bow and arrow with dexterity. They are Caribs, and voracious for human flesh, and are called the Arnaquinas. They have temples for sacrifice, and worship the sun and moon, as the Spaniards discovered, by what they saw at the doors of their sanctuaries; for on one side, there was a large plank on which was cut the figure of the sun and that of a man. From this it was understood that they sacrificed men.