“…I saw human flesh suspended from beams between the houses, just as with us it is the custom to hang bacon and pork” (pg.35)
I found this quote to be a direct representation of Vespucci’s point of view on the natives. He was able to look at their culture and lifestyles objectively unlike several of the other explorers who had visited these lands.He goes on to only describe one practice as utterly disgusting and this was the enlargement of their genitals through animal bites.Overall Vespucci observed their culture simply as different from theirs naming many major differences such as the absence of religion or any type of observable governmental system among these people. He almost seemed to admire some of the differences in the land and how fertile it was and all the animals in this new land that he had never seen before. He also goes on to admire their fishing ability and their longevity of life as well as the absence of death from pestilence. Vespucci takes on a point of view which was rare at the time where he simply compared their society to his own and was in awe at how different it was in this new world.His Initial experience almost seems to be a surprising one with all of these abnormalities such as their lack of much clothing or any clothing at all.
I understand and agree about Vespucci’s objective description about the Natives. He was clear and unbiased. Vespucci, unlike the other explorers, did admire the land and its people. Maybe, Vespucci compared the Native norms and practices to European norms and was in envy. The fertile lands and generous and caring Natives put him to awe because it was nothing like he ever seen. He sees opportunity with the land and its inhabitants. Vespucci might have realized that Europe’s attitudes and behaviors can possibly learn from the New World. Despite the lustful women, sexual freedom, and cannibalism, Vespucci sees great potential in a new paradise.
I agree with your point that Vespucci was in awe at the differences of the new world compared to his own. He revered the new fruits by saying they were, “delectable to the taste and beneficial to the human body” and the roots used to make “excellent foods”. However, I will have to disagree with your statement that Vespucci only describes the enlarged genitals as disgusting. I believe that he also found their practices of cannibalism and sexual freedom among the women to be repulsive. In the end, this all comes back to his comparisons of these people and their culture to his own that he is accustomed to.