Went toward them (the indians) and called to them and they
came toward us and the best we could do was to assure them and
assure ourselves, and gave them beads and hawk-bells, and each of
them gave me an arrow, which is a sign of friendship, and by signs
they told us they would return in the morning and bring us
something to eat, because thev did not have any [with them).
the next day, at sunrise, which was the hour that the indians had
told us, they came to us as they had promised and brought us
much fish and some roots which they are and which are like nuts,
some large or smaller. the greater part of them is taken from
under water and with great trouble. at evening the returned and
brought us more fish and the same roots and they brought their
wives and children so that they could see us, and thus they
returned rich with hawk bells and beads that we gave them. and
other days they came to visit us again with the same as the other
time. -cabeza de vaca (krieger 2002: 179)
the question is: are the american indians being described as nomadic or sedentary and explain