In this island there are many spices, and large mines of gold and other metals.
"The people of this island and of all the others which I have discovered or heard of, both men and women, go naked as they were born, although some of the women wear leaves of herbs or a cotton covering made on purpose.

They have no iron or steel, nor any weapons; not that they are not a well-disposed people and of fine stature, but they are timid to a degree.

They have no other arms excepting spears made of cane, to which they fix at the end a sharp piece of wood, and then dare not use even these.

Frequently I had occasion to send two or three of my men onshore to some settlement for information, where there would be multitudes of them; and as soon as they saw our people they would run away every soul, the father leaving his child; and this was not because any one had done them harm, for rather at every cape where I had landed and been able to communicate with them I have made them presents of cloth and many other things without receiving anything in return; but because they are so timid.

Certainly, where they have confidence and forget their fears, they are so open-hearted and liberal with all they possess that it is scarcely to be believed without seeing it.