Crimes were punished by request of the aggrieved parties.  Especially were thefts punished with greater severity, the robbers being enslaved or sometimes put to death. [154] The same was true of insulting words, especially when spoken to chiefs.  They had among themselves many expressions and words which they regarded as the highest insult, when said to men and women.  These were pardoned less willingly and with greater difficulty than was personal violence, such as wounding and assaulting. [155]

Concubinage, rape, and incest, were not regarded at all, unless committed by a timagua on the person of a woman chief.  It was a quite ordinary practice for a married man to have lived a long time in concubinage with the sister of his wife.  Even before having communication with his wife he could have had access for a long time to his mother-in-law, especially if the bride were very young, and until she were of sufficient age.  This was done in sight of all the relatives.

Single men are called bagontaos, [156] and girls of marriageable age, dalagas.  Both classes are people of little restraint, and from early childhood they have communication with one another, and mingle with facility and little secrecy, and without this being regarded among the natives as a cause for anger.  Neither do the parents, brothers, or relatives, show any anger, especially if there is any material interest in it, and but little is sufficient with each and all.

As long as these natives lived in their paganism, it was not known that they had fallen into the abominable sin against nature.  But after the Spaniards had entered their country, through communication with them—­and still more, through that with the Sangleys, who have come from China, and are much given to that vice—­it has been communicated to them somewhat, both to men and to women.  In this matter it has been necessary to take action.

The natives of the islands of Pintados, especially the women, are very vicious and sensual.  Their perverseness has discovered lascivious methods of communication between men and women; and there is one to which they are accustomed from their youth.  The men skilfully make a hole in their virile member near its head, and insert therein a serpent’s head, either of metal or ivory, and fasten it with a peg of the same material passed through the hole, so that it cannot become unfastened.  With this device, they have communication with their wives, and are unable to withdraw until a long time after copulation.  They are very fond of this and receive much pleasure from it, so that, although they shed a quantity of blood, and receive other harm, it is current among them.  These devices are called sagras, and there are very few of them, because since they have become Christians, strenuous efforts are being made to do away with these, and not consent to their use; and consequently the practice has been checked in great part. [157]