Cabeza views on Native Americans/Harriot’s views on New Lands By Jonathan & Jennifer

Cabeza De Vaca's Views on the Native Americans
In describing the Malhado way of life (pg 31), he talks of their eating habits and mourning rituals. He also describes in detail their dress and relationships between in laws. To me, this shows a keen interest in the people from a humanities standpoint. Not a work of someone who didn't have respect for the Natives. Cabeza De Vaca doesn't seem to have looked down on these peoples because of his genuine interest in their customs but he still sees them as uncivilized. In his report to Charles V. he describes: "The customs of the numerous, barbarous people I talked to and dwelt among." (pg 30)
Evidence of Cabeza de Vaca's respect for the Natives is compounded by his own incarceration resulting from his defense of the rights of American Indians. "Cabeza de Vaca had hoped to enact an enlightened American Indian policy, but his Rio De la Plata colonists, profiting from the old injustices, removed him forcibly from office and sent him in chains back to Spain in 1545." (pg 29) After his incarnation; Cabeza was exiled to Algeria forbidden to ever return to the Americas. It seems to me that Cabeza was a man of principle who had a deep respect for the American Indians.
Harriot's Views on the New Lands
Harriot had many different views and descriptions in his writings. Some seemed very factual, such as his descriptions of the Native American's clothing, weapons, towns, houses and government: "They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of deer skins......"pg 37, "Those weapons that they have are only bows made of witch hazel, and arrows of reeds......." pg 37, "Their towns are but small, and near the seacoast but few, some containing but ten or twelve houses........." pg 37-38, "Their houses are made of small poles" pgs 37-38, and "In some places of the country, one only town belongs to the government of a Wiroans or chief Lord."pg 38). Harriot seems almost impressed that these "savages" have adequate clothing, weapons and a sort of government. He even compares their houses to English arbors found in gardens (pg 38).
There are other areas of Harriot's writing that seem to have more of a righteous tone. He writes that Native Americans are a poor people, lacking in skill and knowledge of the Englishman's things: "In respect of us, they are poor people, and for want of skill........." (pg 38). He goes on to complement the Native American people, stating that they seem very ingenious: "....for although they have no such tools, .......such crafts, sciences, and arts as we, yet.,....they show excellence of wit." (pg 38) Harriot goes on to state that the Native American people will find the Englishman's knowledge and crafts exceed theirs in perfection and they will desire the Englishman's friendship and love. The Native Americans will have ".....greater respect for pleasing and obeying us......they may in short time be brought to civility, and the embracing of true religion." (pg 38) Harriot definitely had an ethnocentrist attitude toward the Native American people and his writings reflect his desire to bring his religion to these "savages".