I never

From Francisco Pareja's 1613 Confessionario: A Documentary Source for Timucuan Ethnography, edited by Jerald Milanich and William Sturtevant, translated from the Spanish, and published by the Florida State Department. Pareja, a Franciscan missionary, wrote the following questions in a guidebook for converting the Timucuan Indians, who occupied large portions of what is now Georgia and Florida. The Timucua were extinct by the beginning of the nineteenth century, and much of what is known about their culture has been reconstructed using documents such as the Confessionario. Professors and students at the College of William and Mary are currently preparing a new translation.

Have you believed that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling that it is a signal that people are coming or that something important is about to happen?

When some woman has given birth, have you avoided coming near the fire, have you considered this sinning?

In the clearing or field of maize, when lightning strikes them, have you considered it a sin to eat it or advised that no one else eats it, considering it a sin?

Have you prayed to the new maize? In what way or with which herb did you do this?

When the fireplace fire pops, have you said this is a sign of war?

Is my mouth trembling a sign that something bad is going to come to me, that they are saying something about me, or that there is going to be food?

Belching, have you said that this is a sign that I want to die, or that there will be much food?

Anointing the head with bear grease, have you considered it a sin to eat fish for a certain number of months?

Have you eaten charcoal, or dirt, or bits of pottery, or fleas, or lice?

Your husband having left you, did you bathe with certain herbs, believing that with this he will return to you?

And thus perfuming, have you put on the dress skirt?

Have you fasted with this intention, that someone will take a liking to you?

And thus with someone did you go on to the night, and in order to eat and drink, did you make the ceremony?

Have you gone around with desire for someone?

Have you said suggestive words?

Did you kiss someone?

Have you taken some herb so that you would not become pregnant?

Being pregnant, have you killed the unborn child or wished to kill it by taking some drink or striking yourself or squeezing your belly to choke it as you used to do?

Have you had intercourse with father and son?

Has someone that has had your younger sister had a duet with you?

By chance, have you had intercourse as if you were a man?

Are you a doctor? Did you cure someone badly so that he would call you back and give you some more pay?

In order that they pay more, have you said: if you don't give me something, the sickness that you have will return?

Have you cured anyone with the ceremony of adulation?

Not because of work, but because you are angry, have you ordered that someone be punished by having his arm broken?

Have you taken an herb to run faster than the other in order to take the bet or the prize that they put up?

Have you taken a woman out of her house by singing your charms? Did the spell work?

Because they don't come to dance, have you ordered that some woman be affronted or that the penalty be taken to her?

Thundering, have you blown toward the heavens in order to stop the clouds or water with your evil prayers?

Sleeping two in a bed or taking a bath, have you touched your sexual organs, saying that in this manner you will do it, and etc.?

Have you had intercourse with another man? Or have you gone around trying out or making fun in order to do that?

Has someone been investigating you from behind?

Being sick or in some great distress, have you thoughtlessly wished to die?

Have you desired that the chief die in order to become his heir?

Are you sorry for not having changed your life before now and being so late in doing this?

Have you believed that some dreams will come true?

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