How does Cabeza De Vaca escape the captivity of one Native American tribe and then go into captivity of another? Only Cabeza and the other men know. Cabeza was very observant while he was in captivity. He observed how respect played a huge deal in their way of life, and how the elders were like fragile monuments, very well respected. In his story he describes many different rituals and traditions the Native Americans have. For example, the Burial Tradition, the marriage tradition, and how they grew their live stock.
In Cabeza’s story he describes a certain burial tradition that the Capoques and Hans have. The quote “If a son dies, the whole village joins the parents and kindred in weeping. The parents set off the wails each day before dawn, again at noon, and at sunset, for one year.” That quote describes how close the tribe is and how they care for one another. The quote “The funeral rites occur when the year of mourning is up. Forgoing these rights, the survivors wash off the smoke stain of the ceremony a symbolic purgation. All the dead are lamented this way except the aged, who merit no regrets.” That quotes is a prime example of how the whole tribe helps out for a whole year! How Cabeza survived, is beyond anyone that has read the story...
In Cabeza’s story he describes the marriage tradition the Capoques, and Hans have. For example, the quote “ When a daughter marries, she must take everything her husband kills in hunting or catches fishing to the house of her father, without daring to eat or to withhold any part of it, and the husband gets provided by female carrier from his father-in-law’s house.” That quote shows respect and how the Native Americans watch out for one another. They respect each other because after that whole process neither the bride’s father or mother can enter the son-in-laws house after the marriage and the same goes for them and their house. The quote “Neither the bride’s father nor mother may enter the son-in-law’s house nor may he theirs; and this holds for the children and respective couples.” That quote is another prime example of respect and how they watched out for another.
In Cabeza’s story he how the growing seasons are though for the Native Americans that he has been taken in by. He quickly catches on, on how they get their food. For example, the quote “ from October to the end of February every year, which is the season these Indians live on the island, they subsist on the roots a I have mentioned, which the women get from under the water in November, and December, only in these two months, too, do they take fish in their cane weirs. When the fish is consumed, the roots furnish the one staple, at the end of February the islanders go into other parts to seek sustenance, for then the roots is beginning to grow and is not edible.” That quote is a very good example of how the Native Americans get their food, and prepare their food.
In conclusion How Cabeza’s obtained this information is simple. But how he got out and how it still exists today is a mystery. Cabeza discovered many interesting facts about the Native Americans and their different ways of respect.
By:
Dylan Cunningham
