f^-i, & \ OF THE ! Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, N.J. c„,. '^CC I 1 Slielfy j(bO^\ Booh, , f^.o — 1 t » '■» 'l^fWl • >- i>9K^'. •♦# •* -.♦ ft /»v ..t •V'. -V X* ;s,/ V. ^^,\ ^^^A\ *>.• 4#>»>«<«^ ^ "^. ■.V ^^■>T«S.:tV*. %fy,;^ % *i^^^v-.. ;.^ ■'^K r . : .i-V Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://www.archive.org/details/historyofmissOOIosk HISTORY OF THE MISSION OF THE UNITED BRETHREN AMONG THE Indians in North America< IN THREE PARTS. BY / GEORGE HENRY LOSKIEL. TRANSLATED FROM TH£ GERMAN BT CHRISTIAN IGNATIUS LA TROBE. LONDON : PRINTED FOR THE BRETHREN'S SOCIETY FOR THE, FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL: SOLD AT No. 10, NEVIVS COURT, FETTER LANE -, ASn Br JOHK STOCKDALE, OPPOSITE BURLINGTON HOUSr, ?ZCCADILI.Y. 1794^ TO ALL IN EVERY DENOMINATION, WHO LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERiry, AND REJOICE AT THE INCREASE OP HIS KINGDOM, THIS ACCOUNT OF THE EFFECTS OF THE GOSPEL AMONG THE INDIANS IN NORTH AMERICA, - IS HUMBLY DEDICATED BY THE TRAmLATOR' ■, ' ,' 'J' THE rRJNSLArOR'S PREFACE- A TRANSLATION of the following Hiftory of the Miflion of the United Brethren among the North American Indians has been much wilhed for by our Brethren and friends, both in England and America, ever fince its publication in the Ger- man language. Several circumflances have pre- vented a fpeedy compliance with this general wifh, but in the end, the delay occafioned in the comple- tion of the work, however regretted, has tended to its improvement, as feveral obfervations and amendments fuggefled by the Author and our North American miffionaries have been carefully attended to in the tranflation. In behalf of the tranflation itfelf, I fhall only remark, that I have endeavoured to convey the Author's mean- ing in fuch language, as I thought mofl intelligible. A tranflator can never be fully fatisfied with his work, and in revifmg the prefs, I have frequently wifhed it had been in my power to have given to one or other paragraph a better turn. I may have erred in fome terms Ti TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. terms and expreflions peculiar to America, though I have endeavoured to avoid it by inquiry. To fome friends, who kindly affifled in the revifion of the ma- nufcript, lowe many obligations, and fhould (land- yet more indebted, had they not fpared me too much. Every error, or propofed amendment, which my readers may ftill poim out, will ferve to improve a fecond edition, if it ever fhould be wanted. I had feveral doubts as to the fpelling of the Indian names, an4 perhaps fhould have done better to have adopted that mode, which to an EngHfh reader might have been mofl convenient. But as I could not be quite pofitive, in what manner our mif- lionaries, moft of whom are Germans, might have cxprefTed Indian founds by European letters, .1 thought it fafeft, to adhere to the fpelling of xny Author, and the miffionaries. As to the GermaQ manner of pronunciation, I will only obferve, that ffch is always pronounced like a ch, andyi:^, like sh ; ch is with them a guttural, for which perhaps a I^ may be the befl fubflitute ; for inflance, Tfchechfche* qttanninki P. III. p. 36, is pronounced by our Ger- man miffionaries, Chekfhequannink. Now and then 1 have varied a little, for inflance, put an aw tq £xp.refs the broad a of the Germans, &c. The annexed map I received from our Brethren ^ North America, it being their wifh that a map of 4Lhofe parts, in which our Indian congregations dwelt, might be added to the work. Though it may not Jbe moft fcrupuloully accurate as to the fituation of the Indian places here defcribed, for want of proper (urveys in fo great a wildernefs, yet it gives as good an idea of the many emigration^ pf our Indian congrer TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. vU congregations, as could poflibly be colleded from the fituation of the rivers and lakes they paffed, or near which they fettled. I have added a copious Index, v/hich I hope will prove ufeful. If my readers receive the fame degree of plea- fure and blefling which I have often done in tranf- lating and revifmg this Hiflory, and are by the per- ufal of it excited to contemplate the work of God in the hearts of the heathen with the fame aflonifli- ment and adoration, and to join me and my Bre- thren in prayer for its fuccefs, I am richly rewarded for any trouble I have had in laying it before them. The profits arifmg from the fale, if any, will be ap- plied towards the fupport of the millions by the Bre- thren's Society for the Furtherance of ihe Gofpel, ia London, by whom it is publilhed. London, September 20th, 1794. ;..... . -it.— s. \. Vx.TSSOLOGlG::' '••fv^ ^&ry -„.-,-, V •'-■-'' P R E F A C iS'-'^i. OF THE AUTHOR, AMONG the Miffions hitherto eflabllihed by the church of the United Brethren, the Miffion among the Indians in North America is unqueftion- ably one of the moft remarkable, whether we con- lider the various changes it has undergone, or the nations, which are its objeft. Its Hiftory contains the moft ftriking events. The Miffion, almoft from the very beginning, meets with many, and even fome very aclive enemies. We behold it often violently affailed with unabating cruelty; fuffering under continual troubles the moft grievous affli£lions, with long, and even bloody perfecutions ; and fubjed to fuch frequent and ex- traordinary viciffitudes, that the Indian Congre- gation may well be ftyled a fiov':k of pilgrims ; yet the almighty hand of God fo protects it, that when it feems almoft vanquifiied, it rifes again triumphant, through his power. Part I. A The 2 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. The heathen nations, with whom the Mlfllonarie? are here engaged, are more remarkable for their ferocity, obftinacy, and hardnefs of heart, than all pther nations of the earth, and yet the power of the word of atonement conquers their unbroken and in- flexible difpofitions. The aim in laying the Hiflory of this MilTion before the Public, is to place thefe marvellous truths in fuch a point of view, that the name of God and our Lord and Savior Jefus Chrill may be glorified. For the truth of the Gofpel can never be more firmly eflablifli- ed than by living vyitneffes, who of themfeives prove^ that Jefus Chrifl is come into the world to fave fmners, and that He verily fav^es all thofe, who come unto God by him. The more I am convinced of this by experience, the greater was my pleafure in undertaking, by defire of my Brethren, to write a liiftory, fo replete with happy inflances, confirming this truth. But in order to inform my readers of the charafter of the Indian nations in their natural ftate, I thought it neceifary to introduce a fhort preHminary ac- count of thofe tribes, with which our MilTionaries have been more intimately acquainted, defcribing their manner of living, their cuftoms, political confli- tution, and conduct in peace and war. The few re- marks occafionally added concerning beafls, plants, and foifils, refer only to the Indian country. As to the materials from which this account is compofed, I owe great obligations to our venerable' . Bifiiop Augufius Gottlieb Spangenberg, who refided many years in North America, and flill more to the Miflionary David Zeifbergtr, who has now ferved that AUTHOR'S PREFACE. ki that Miirion upwards of forty years fuccefllvely, and whofe veracity is unqueftionable. I have like- wife confulted Dodlor Robertfon's Hiftory of America, Captain Carver's Travels through the in- terior Parts of America, and Mr. Leifte's Defcrip- tion of the Britifh Dominions in North America, but fo far only as their copious and explicit account perfe^ly agreed with the teftimony of the above- mentioned authorities. It affords particular fatif- fadion to me, that, before this work went to the prefs, it underwent a careful revifion, and was ap- proved by Bifhop Spangenberg and other worthy men, feveral of whom had been in North America, and refided in the Indian country. Its chief worth therefore lies in its veracity. As to the hiftory of the Miffion itfelf, I have been favored with the moft authentic accounts, journals, and letters of the Miflionaries themfelves, and of others, who have been employed in this work of God, from the archives of the Unity of the Bre- thren. My principal concern was to write the truth, and nothing but the truth, and therefore I have not caft a veil over the miftakes, which have been made in conducting the Miffion. It muft be ob- vious to every reader, that I have not made neat- nefs and elegance of didtion fo much my ftudy, as concifenefs, plainnefs, and a language perfectly in- telligible, even to the illiterate. I have not been able to fucceed in my endeavours to procure an accurate m.ap of the countries in which the Miffion was fituated, partly becaufe I could not find any maps of North America to be relied upon, and sll AUTHOR'S PREFACE. and did not chufe to republilh one that was inac- curate; and partly becaufe the Indian Congregation emigrated fo often, and dwelt in countries fo far diftant from each other, that it would have been impracticable to reprefent all their fettlements in a map of a fmall fize, and many maps would have too much increafed the price of the work. I would willingly have finifhed this work fooner, ^r it was already announced to the Public in the year 1784, by the Hon. John Jacob de Mofer, ftate counfellor to the King of Denmark, in his work en- titled, " North America, agreeably to thejTreaties *^ of Peace in 1 783 ;" but I was prevented by :■ variety of other avocations. The Hiftory has however loft nothing by this delay, as I am enabled to continue it down to the middle of the year 1787. I take this opportunity publicly to exprefs my gra- titude to all and each of thofe friends who have in tlie lead affifted me. Finally, I pray the Lord that he would lay his blefling upon my unworthy labors, for the glory of his holy name. Strickenhof in Livonia, May id, 1788. GEORGE HENRT LOSKIEL, HISTORY OF THE MISSION OF THE UNITED BRETHREN AMONG THE Indians in North America. PART I. CHAPTER I. Hhits concerning the Origin of the hidian Natkns, Afummary View of them^ and of their Country. THE firft Europeans who came to North America found this immenfe continent inhabited by numerous nations, all of whom are comprehended under the general name of Indians. Their numbers have been often over-rated, owing to the different names frequently given to one nation. As to their origin, there is no certainty. The inveftiga- tions even of the mofl learned have produced nothing but conjedtures more or lefs probable; nor will I detain my readers with a repetition, much lefs enter into a review of them. Thofe feem to be neareft the truth who join the cele- brated Dr. Robertfon.'in fuppofing Tartary in Alia to be the native country of all the American Indian nations. But it . Fart I. B is a - Of the Ir.dian Nattam^ P. I. is my intention to confine myfelf to an account of only two of thefe nations, namely the Delaware and Iroquois. The Delawai-es i:XQ divided into three tribes. The Una'- im are confidered as the head of the nation, the Wiinalach- t'ikos are next in rank, and then follow the Monfys. The name Delawures was undoubtedly firft given to them by the Europeans •, for they call themfelves Lennilenape^ that is, Indian men ; or Woapanackky^ that is , a pecple^ living towards the rifing of the fiiUy having formerly inhabited the eaftern coaft of North America. This name is likewife given to them by the other Indian nations. The Iroquois have received their name from the Frencli, and moft hiftorians, who have written of them, make ufe of it. But the Englifh call them the Six Nations, as they nov/ confift of fix nations in league with each other. For- merly they were caihd the Five Nations, five only being joined in that alliance. Dut as we {hall fpeak of them, both in their former and prefent ftate, I (hall for the fake of perfpicuity confine myfelf to the name of Iroquois, They call themfelves Aaiimjufchioni^ that is, United People j always to remind each other, that their fafety and power confifts in a mutual (Ititl adherence to their alliance. Others call them Mingcs, and fome Maquais. Thefe fix confederate nations are the Mahaivh, Oneida, Oncndago^ Cajugu, Sentjeha, and Tufcarcra. The latter joined the cort? federacy about 70 years ago. The reft of the nations cither in league with the Dela^- njjares and Iroquois, ox conneclcd with them by fome means or other, are the AL-.hikan's, Sh.iwancfe.^ Chcrokees, Tmiicht- ivees, Jy'aicih'chtmos, Kikapus, Mo/h/ecs, Tuka/has, Chipatuas; Oitawf.s^ F tit divoat amen, Nnntlkchu TVyonna.'s or Hurons, Chaktalvns.^ Chikafajvs, and Creek Indians, with fome others, whofe names are occafionally mentioned in this hiftory. y\U thefe Indian nations live to the weft of New Eng- land, New York, New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Marylaijd, Virginiri, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. But it is difRcalt exaflly to determine the boundaries of the difr ferent Ch. I. particularly the Delarvaf^s and Iroqiioh. 5 ferent countries they inhabit, partly for want of good fur- veys, and partly on account of the uiifettled Rate of fome of the nations, and therefore their territories can only be de- scribed in a general way. The Delaivares live about half way between Lake Erie and the river Ohio. The Iroquois poflefs the country behind Netv Torh-^ Pennfylvania^ and Maryland^ about the Lakes Erie and Ontario, extending weft ward to the Mifhfippi and fouthward to the Ohio. T'he Mohawls live more to the eaftward, are much mixed with the white people *, and not numerous. Their neigh- bors are the 0?iadc and Tufcarora. Then follow in a Ime from eaft to weft, the OnotidagOy CajugUj and Senneia tribes. The Mahihans are neighbors of the Iroqucws. Tiie Shawanofe live below the Delaware, towards the river Ohio. The Wiondats and Hurons partly inhabit the country on tlie weft coaft of Lake Erie near SanduQcy Creek, partly about Fort Detroit, between the Lakes Huron and Michi^n. The Ottawas and Futetvtcrtarun live alfo to the weft ©-f Lake Erie, but a great way beyond it. The JVawiachtanas and Tiuicbtivees refide chiefly between the rivers Sioto and Wabafch, and the Kikapus, Mojchhs, and TuckachpjaSy in- liabit the banks on both fides the Wabafch, but are far diftant from each other. The Chipaicas are a numerous na- tion inhabiting the north coaft of Lake Erie. Some of the Nantihks live in Maryland, but by far the greater pr.rt of this tribe retired firft to the Sufquehannah, and then further north. The Cherokees inhabit the mountains behind North Carolina, between the river Cherokee, which flows into the Ohio, and South Carolina ; eaftward of the Miflifippi. The Chahanvas or Catabas live behind Georgia on the banks of the Miflifippi, and the Creehs are neighbors of the Cherokees and Chaktawas. They live behind the mountains cf Carolina and Georgia, and are divided into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Creeks. Between the Creeks and Che- * Thus the Europeans and their defcendants are called ia America, t» j'difiguiih them from the Indians. B a rokees, 4 Of i^-^ Indian Cotwtry. P. I. rokees, more to the weft ward on the eaft fide of the Miflifippi are the Chikafaivs-^ who inhabit both fides of the river Chika- fawy or Jafon River, which empties itfelf into the Miffifippi. Among thefe Indians are fome negroes, who either were taken captive in war, or ran away from their mafters, and fought fafety among the Indians. I fhall defer mentioning the manner In which the Dela- wares and Iroquois are connected, both with each other, and with the above-mentioned nations, until I treat of their hiftory and conftitution, and content myfelf at prC" fent with giving fome account of the country they in-f habit. This includes the large lakes, to be defcribed hereafter, and lies between the 37th and 48 th degree of north lati- tude and the 77th and gid weft longitude, from the mcri-? dian of London; its length being about eight hundred, and its greateft breadth eleven hundred miles. It is bounded by New York and Pennfylvania on the eaft ; by the river Ohio, fouth ; by the river Miflifippi, weft ; and by Canada, north. This part of America is remarkably well watered, having large brooks, rivers,, and lakes, by which an inland communication is rendered eafy. The above-mentioned chain of large lakes is very remarkable, and a moft magni- ficent 4ii*play of the works of the Almighty. Their fize might entitle fome of them to the name of inland oceans of frejh water. The largeft is Lake Superior^ fituated between the 46th and 50th degree of north latitude and the 84th and 93d of weft longitude. Lake Superior may be juftly deemed the largeft lake in America, if not in the whole world, unlefs there Ihould exift any larger lake in that part of North America, into which no European has as yet pene- trated i Its 'circumference, including all the bays, is com- puted at fixteen hundred miles. Captain Carver fays, that he traverfed above twelve hundred miles over this hike, and found the bed moftly a folid rock. The water is very clear, and almoft as tranfparent as the air. If the fun fliines bright, it is impolhble through tins medium to look at the rocks ait 2 tlie Ch. I. Q/" tljs Indian Country. J the bottom, above a minute or two. The water has alfo this property, that though the fuperficies is much warmed by the heat of the fun, yet when drawn up at about a fathom depth, it is as cold as ice. Storms rage in this Jake here as upon the ocean, and the waves rife nearly as high, fo as to endanger the largeft fhips. Many rivers empty themfelves into this lake, but I will only make mention of one, which falls from an height of fix hundred feet perpendicular, and appears at a diftance like a white ftreak in the air, its ftream being very narrow. Lake Huron is the next in magnitude, and joined to the former by a natural channel called the Straits of St. Marie. It lies between the 42d and 46th degree north latitude and the 79th and 85th weft longitude, is almoft triangular in fhape, and about one thoufand miles in circumference. Among its other curiofities, is a bay called Thunder-bay. The Indians and Europeans have given it this name, on account of the continual thunder and lightning prevailing there. To this. Lake Michigan is joined by the Straits of Mi- chillimakinack. It is fituated between the 42d and 46th degree of north latitude and 85th and 87th of weft longi- tude, and about five hundred miles in circumference. A chain of fmall iflands runs through it, which have a beautiful appearance. Lake Erie is alfo connected with Lake Huron by a long and broad channel. The iflands in Lake Erie are infefted by ferpents, among which the hifhng fnake and rattlefnakc are the moft remarkable. The latter are more numerous here, than in any other part of America. Lake Ontario is joined by the river Niagara to the former. It lies between the 43d and 45th degree of north latitude and the 76th and 79th weft longitude, in a direction from north-eaft to fouth-weft, being an oblong of about five hundred miles in circumference. The great river St. Lau- rence has its fource in this lake. In all thefe. lakes no current is obfervable, though they receive fuch a number B 3 of ^ Of th Indian Country. P. f, of rivers and brooks, bat their waters are remarkably clear, fweet, and wholefome, abounding with fifti, and naviorable for large veflels. The Engllfh kept even large armed fhips both on Lake Ontario and Erie, for the defence of their trade with t}.e Indians. There are befides a number of fmaller lakes in that part of North America ^ Lake Oneida is about thirty miles long and fifteea broad ; Lake Cajugny about as large j and our ntiiffionaries have met v/lth fome, rather larger, in the Senneka country. ]\lofl of the large rivers have falls. The chief river in that country, inhabited by the Delawares and Iroquois, is the Okia. It riles about two hundred and fifty miles to the nonh-eaft of Pittfburg,* in a thick forefl^ about half way between the fouth-eaft fide of Lake Ontario and the river Sufquehannah, which runs through Pennfyl- vania. The Delawares call this river Alligewifipo •, which the Europeans have changed into Allighene •, and the- Troquois call it Ohia^ that is, the beant'ifal river. The Ohio is a navigable and gentle ftream. Large veflels may pafs from Pittfburg down the Ohio to the Miffifippi, and to an ifland in that river, called New Orleans. The river ^/c- nongehella rifes in Virginia^ and falls into the Ohio at Pittf- burg. About one hundred miles north of that town the river Venango empties itfelf into the Ohio. In travelling to Prefquille, Lake Erie, or Niagara, you leave the Ohio and enter this river. But this journey is rendered extremely In- convenient by a portage or carrying place, v/hich obliges tra-- vellers to convey their baggage fifteen miles by land, and then to relhlplt; and if they are not certain of finding another boat ready, they are under the neceflity of conveying the boat with the baggage. The river Mujkingiim^ that is, EWs Eyeyow account of the number of ellis feeding on it3 banks, rifes near Cajahaga in a fmall lake, falls into the Ohio about two hundred miles below Pittfburg, and is navigable for Indian boats from its fource to its mouth. About three hundred miles below Pittfburg, the river 5;V/!7j and fi little further weft, the Wahajl\ meets Ch. I. ^f if->^ Indian Cciwiry. ff meets tlie Ohio. The river Sandufny runs from foutli to north, and falls into Lake Erie ; and the Sfraioberry riverj deriving i3 name from the great number of large and well- flavored flrawberrics, pre wing on its banks, empties itfelf into Lake Ontario. Moft of the fmaller rivers cf that country flow into one or other of thefe two lakes. Many rivers, not mentioned here, fall into the O/j/u, which runs from north-eaft to fouth-v/eft, and after a courfe of above ijxteen hundred miles, joins the Miflifippi about fourteen hundred miles below Pittlburg. Brooks, generally called Creeks, are remarkably numerous, and fall either into the rivers or lakes above-mentioned. As we have touched upon the two great rivers, tlft MiJJiftppi and St. Laurence, I will only juft obferve, that they rife not far from each other, and taking different direclions, empty rhemfelves into the ocean each about two thoufand five hundred miles from their fource. The Mijjyippiy one of the largefl: and mofl majeflic rivers in the world, has delightful banks of forefts and meadow- land, upon which whole herds of elks and other game are feen grazing. \n fome parts, thefe paftxires are bounded by beautiful hlilocks, perpendicular rocks, or high mountains, from which the profpeft is moft enchanting. Several rivers^ equal to the Danube or Rhine in maghitudci empty them- felves into it from eail to well. It has like'.vife feveral falls. The moft remarkable are the falls of St. Antliony, the noife of which is heard at the dlftance of twenty miles. Some miles below this cataracl is a cave of aftonidiing depth. The Indians call it the habitation of the great Spirit. About twenty feet fovv.-ard from the entrance, a fubterranean lake appears, the end of w^hich has not yet been difcovered, '.j'l account of the darknefs of the cave. The river Miffifippi at length enters the Gulph of Mexico, dividing itfelf into, rarioua branches. The river ^t. Laurence runs through a large part of Ca- np'di. ^nd harltig received a great number of larger and B 4 fmaller * Of the Indian Cotmir^j. P.I. fmaller rivers, empties itfelf into the Bay of St. Laurence, being at its mouth ninety miles broad. The river Niagara may be confidered as an arm of the river St. Laurence, about forty-five miles long. The latter having received an immenfe addition to its waters in a courfe of near one thoufand fix hundred and fifty miles, falls one hundred and forty feet perpendicular, and having ruflied forward about feven miles with extreme rapidity, falls again nearly from the fame height with a noifej which is heard at a dillancc almoft incredible. Befides the falls of Niagara, the river St. Laurence has other falls, which render it neceflary to unload the boats, and carry the goods by land for a longer or fhorter way, and yet its navigaflbn is confiderable. I return from this digreflion to the river Ohio. The banks of the Ohio are fubjeft to frequent inunda- tions, efpecially in fpring, when the fnow melts in the north. This probably is the caufe of the remarkable luxuriancy and richnefs of their foil. In general the whole country inhabited by the Delawares and Iroquois is uncom- monly fruitful, but it requires the ufual tillage and manure, after having rendered its produce for fome year* fpontaneoufly. The country through which the Wahajlj flows, is very level. Here are plains, many leagues in extent, producing nothing'but grafs, and in a journey of fome days you meet with neither hill, tree, nor thicket. Upon thefe plains, herds of buffaloes are fecn grazing, confiding fometimes of more than one hundred head. It is faid, that the further you travel to the weft, the more fruitful and beautiful the country appears, but it is for the moft part uninhabited. The moft confiderable chain of mountains in the land of the Delawares and Iroquois is a part of the Apalachian, or Allegheny mountains, extending from Florida in different branches almoft without any interruption to the moft northern parts of America. Thefe mountains receive different names, ia CIi. I. Of the Climate of N'sri/j America. 9 HI the ditlerent countries in v/hich they lie. Thofc to the wed of the Miflifippi, in the" neighborhood of the river St. Peter, are called the Shining Aljitntaiiisy on account of .ur immenfe number of large cryftnls, fhooting from the rocks, and fparkling beautifully in the rays of the fun, fo, as to be feen at a great diflance. Another part of the fame ridge in Pennfylvani;-!, is called the Blue Ridge. The name given to the highefl: is, the Great Blue., or Wolf's Mountain, on account of tlie number of wolves, v/hich infeft it. The mod confiderable mountains in the land of the Delav/ares, on the road to Pittfburg, are the Seidling, Alleg4icny, and Laurel. The above-mentioned mountains are the eaftern border of the Indian country towards Pennfylvania and the colo- nies. To the weft of them the land is diverfified witli hillocks and gentle rifings, but is not mountainous. Both the hills and the lowlands have generally the fame foil. The latter is {o overgrown with thickets, that the fun can hardly penetrate. Thefe thickets are called fwamps. As to the climate, it has been generally remarked, that thofe American provinces, which lie in the fame latitude with Europe, fuiFer a much feverer and longer winter than the latter. The mod northern part 01 the United States lies in the fame degree of latitude with Great Britain and the chief part of Germany,' but its winter is excef- Jlvely feverc, and the fummer but ftiort. Nova Scotia, the north part of New England, and the principal part of Ca- nada, are. in the fame degree of latitude with France and the fouth part of Germany, but the winters of the form.er are Tery cold and long. The fouth part of New England, New York, the greated part of New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, and the fouth part of Canada, lie in the fame degree of lati- tude with Spain and Italy, but the cold is very feverc and "lading. Sometimes indeed the heat of fummer js exceiTive, but fuddcn changes from heat to cold are frequent. Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolinaj are in fo 6f the Climate of North America. P. !, the fame degree of latitade with the mofl fouthern parts of Europe, but have much more frcft and fnow. This fe- verity of climate probably proceeds f:orn the north and north- \ve(l vnnds blowing over an immenfe tract of land, Covered with mountains, lakes, and forefts. But the want of inhabitants and the large forefts contribute much towards it. At the time when Tacitus wrote his hiftory of Germany, ic appears that its winters were much more levere and lafting than at prefent. It is therefore probable, that the feverity of the climate will abate in America in proportion to its culture and population. In the country of the Delawares they have warm funimers. The hotteft months are July and Auguft, when woollen clothes cannot be worn. Even in autumn, and as late or later than Chrlftmas, but little froft is fcen, and if even in a clear night tiie ground fliculd freeze, it thaws foon after fun-rife. In general the winter is mild, the weather being chieily rainy, darrp and changeable. After a_ fev.' clear days, rainy and foggy weather is fure to follow. The river INIulkir.gum, being a very flow currentj generally freezes over, once or pcrliaps twice In a feafon. The fnow is never deep, nor remains long on the ground. The winter between 1779 and 1780 was called remarkably fevere, as the fnow fell once two feet deep. In eight days if was gone, and the cold Vv-cather lafted only till February, In the land of the Iroquois the cold is more intenfe, and th<* fnow deeper. The difi'crence of one hundred miles to north or fouth; makes likewife a great difference in the temperature of the air. Near the river Sandufky the cold is much fevever. with a greater quantity of fnow, than on the Mulklngum ; and on the Sloto the fnow hardly ever remains on the ground The v/eather varies alfo confiderably on the eaft and wed fide of the Allegheny mountains. For in Pennfylvania the eail wind generally brings rain ; but never on the Ohio., where the eaft wind feldom blows, and never above twelve hours at a time. But the foinh and weft winds bring rain. Ch.I. Bicriesy Aiinerahi enciofed our hunting places for PAB.T L C the l8 Of the Indian Languages, P. I. the ufe of their cattle, done infinite mifchlef" to us, efpe- cially by the importation of rum, and probably intend in time to feize upon all our country, and to deftroy ouv whole nation. Though the long intercourfe betv/een the Delawarcs and Europeans has moderated this difgufl, yet they have neither love nor confidence towards them. The French, however, fcem to poflefs the greateft fliare of the good-will of the Indians, by eafily entering into the Indian manner of living, and appearing always good-humored. The Englifh are not fo high in their favor. Since the late war, which procured the independence of America, the white Americans are ail called Big-knives by the Indians, from the long fwords worn by them. The Iroquois ftill maint;iin their good character, for the pundtuality with which they adhere to public alliances. But as the reader will find traces fufficient in the following chap- ters, by which he may difcover the true charadler of the Indians, we will now turn to their languages. I will not enter into any inquiry about the origin of the languages fpoken by the Delawares and Iroquois, this being at prefent as difficult to determine as the origin of the na- tions themfelves, but will only obferve, that it appears very probable, that the Delaware and Iroquois are the prin- cipal languages fpoken throughout the known part of North America, Terra Labrador excepted, and that all ethers are dialeifls of them. Our miffionaries at lead, who were par- ticularly attentive to this fubje6l, have never met with any, which had not fome fimilitude with either one or the other: But the Delaware language bears no refemblance to the Iroquois. Though the three different tribes of the Delawares have the fame language, yet they fpeak different dialc6ts. The Unamis and Wunalachtikos, who formerly inhabited the eaftern coaft of Pennfylvania and New Jerfey, nearly agree in pronunciation ; But the diale£l of the Monfys, who formerly lived in Menliling, beyond the Blue Mountains, differs fo much from the former, that they would hardly be able Ch. II. Of the Indian Languages. ip able to underftand each ether, did they not keep up a conti- nual intercourfe. The language of the Delawares has an agreeable found, both in common converfation, and public delivery. The dialect fpoken by the Unamis and Wunalachtikos is pecu- liarly grateful to the ear, and much more eafily learnt by an European, than that of the Monfys, which is rougher and fpoken with a broad accent. However, the Monfy dialect is a key to many expreflions in the Unami and Wunalachtikos. The latter have a way of dropping fome fyllables, fo that, without a knowledge of the^ former, it would be impoflible, either to fpell their words or guefs their meaning. The pronunciation of the Delaware language is in gene- ral eafy, only the ch is a very ftrong guttural. The letters /, -y, ph^ and r, are wanting in their alphabet. They there- fore omit them entirely in foreign words, or pronounce them differently, for example, Pilipp for Philip, Petelus for Petrus, Plifcilla for Prifcilla. They have few mond- fyllables, but a great number of polyfyllables and compound words. . In trifyllables the accent is generally placed upon the middle, and in polyfyllables upon the laft fyllable but one. This muft be very minutely attended to, becaufe the fenfe of many words depends entirely upon. the accent. We have already obferved that feveral other languages derive their origin from the Delaware, and this proceeds chiefly from the vicinity or connexions of the different na- tions and tribes. For inflance, the language of the Mahi- kans is nearly related to the Monfy dialecl, thefe two na- tions having formerly been neighbors in the province of New York. The Shawanofe is alfo related to the Monfy, but more to the Mahikan : Only the former generally place the accent upon the laft fyllable. The Ottawa is nearly related to the Shawanofe, but the Chipawa more immediately to the Delaware. The language of the Twichtwees and Wa- wiachtanos refembles the Shav/anofe j in dialecl the Kikapus, Tukachflias, Mofhkos, and Karhaflci, differ from the De- C z la ware io Of the Indian Languages, P* I, lavrare in proportion to their diftance from each other, but are all nearly related. Thus alio the languages of all thofc. nations, formerly refiding on the fea-coaft in Maryland, very much refemble the Delaware, differing only in pronuncia- tion and accent. The Iryquois have one common language, but each of th* ^x nations fpeak a different dialeft : However, they under- ftand each other with eafe. The Mohaviks, Oneida, and Onondago, vary but little •, the Cajugu rather morei then follows the Senncka, and lafl of all the Tufcarcra. The languages of many other Indian nations are nearly related to the Iroquois, efpecially (he Huron, which feems to ditTer only in pronunciation. But the Cherokees fpeak a compound of th'- S'^awanofe, Iroquois, Huron, and others. All thefe languages however are fubjedi to innovation, owing to the interocurfe of the different tribes or their con- nexion with the Europeans. A mixed language was thus formed by the intermarrying of the French and Indians in Canada, which was countsijianced by the French govern- ment. In things relating to common life, the language of the In- dians is remarkably copious. They have frequently feveral names for one and the fame thing, under different ciK;um- ftanccs. For irftance, the Delawares have ten different names for a hear^ according to its age or fex. Such names have often not the leafl rcfemblance to each other. But if w-e confider all thefe languages in a general point of view, they are, as far as we know, very deficient in exprefiion, though not all equally poor. The Indians have of courfe no terms but for the things in which they are converfant and en- gaged, and thefe are but few. Nor do they take any pains to enrich their language, in proportion as their know- ledge extends, but rather choofe to exprefs themfeh'es in a figurative or defcriptive manner. Thus the language of their orators, who mofl fcnfibly feel the want of proper ex- preiTions, is full of images, and they find even gefture and grinaace neceflary to convey their fentiments. Wlien they fee Ch. II. Of the Indian Languages. 2X fee new objefts, ihey commonly obferve, that thefe are things which have no name. Now and then a council is held to confuk about a term, defcrlptive of a new thing. Thus they have cholen a word to exprefs broivn co!o>\ figni- fying the ni'tdille hf^ut'en black and ivhile. For buckles they in- vented a word meaning metal Jhoe'Jlrings. The want of proper cxpreluons iti fpirltual things, of w' ich th^ry were totally ignorant, was mofc perplexing. But fi-'ce the Gofpel has been preached among them, the lan- guages of the Delawares and Iroquois have gained much in this refpefl. And in proportion as the believing Indians grow in the knowledge of the Ijord JefuB Chrift and his word, their languages improve and become more copious. , There are indeed no rules of oratory laid ^own in the In- dian language, yet their orators muil be well exercifed, before they can gain applaufe. In their public delivery, they fpeak with a very pompous and elevated tone, in which the Iroquois excel all other Lidians. In matters relating to their own affairs, in which they are well verfed, both they and th^ Delawares fpeak wi h great clearnefs and precifion, and {o concife, that great circumlocution is required to convey the full meaning of their expreflions in an European language. If they intend to fpeak in an obfcure and referved manner, they can lay fo much in few words, that even the Indians themfelves mull ftudy the true fenfe of their allufions. They (how great fkill in conveying an account of a bad acflion in terms, which to men, ignorant of their craftinefs, appear defcriptive of a virtuous deed, and for this purpofe tiieir ex- preflions are well chofen. The chiefs are particularly well verfed in this art of difTembhngj and therefore very llrid: at- tention mud be paid to every word of their difcourfe, efpe- cialiy if an anfwer is expetled, and great caution is required to guard agairJl deceit. The language of the Iroquois ap- pears more eafy to be learned, than that of the Delawares. As the Indians have no letters, it is diihcult for an European to write fome of their words with accuracy. How- C 3 ever, £2 Of the India}! Languages. p.r. ever, the muTionary, David Zeijberger^ has with great dili- gence compiled an Englifh and Delaware Spelling Book and Grammar^ which was printed in Philadelphia in 1776, from which I will here quote the Lord's Prayer as a fpecimen of the Delaware language : Ki Wetochemelenk, talli epian AwofTagame. Machelen- dafutfch Ktellewunfowoagan Kfaklmawoagan pejewigetfch. Ktelite hewoagan legetfch talli Achquidhackamike, elgiqui leek talli AwofFagame. Milineen elgifchquik gunigifchuk Achpoan. Woak miwelendammauwineen 'n Tfchannauch- fowoagannena elgiqui niluna miwelendammauwenk nik Tfchetfchanilav/equengik. Woak katfchi 'npawuneen H Achquetfchiechtowoaganling, tfchukund Ktennieen untfchi Medhickiing. Alod Knihiliatamen Kfakin^awoagan, woak Ktallewuffowoagan, woak KtallowilUffowoagan, ne wuntfchi hallemiwi li hallamagamik. Amen ! The following table will give the reader fome idea of the difference between the Delaware and Iroquois: Delaware. Iroquois. The Bible Mecheek Bambilura Gachiatochferatogechti Bread Achpoan Jocharachqua Brother Nimat Jatattege The Earth Hakky Uchwiintfia The Go/pel Kikewiabtonacan Garrichwio Prayer Pattamoewoagan Unteraenaji Faith Wulillaramuwoagan Ne Wauntontak Grace Wulantowoagan Ne Agotaeri God Patamawos Hawonio Savior Wewulatenamohaluwit Unquanich The Heart W'Dee Awerlachfu A Child Amimens Ixhaa A Man Lenno Etfchinak A Mother Gachwees Onurha The Creator\ cj the World] Kifchellemelangcop fGarochiade ne uch» \ wuntfchiade Sijler Chiefmus Akzia Sold Tfchitfchank Gavveriachfa Salvation Wulate n am 0 agan Zenichaewe Son Quifes Danifs Hehawak Daughter Echrojehawak Death Angloagan Ne Jawohcje Father Ch. II. Manner of Writing. 23 Delaiuare, Father Wetochemend Truth Wulameowagan Woman Ochqueu To pray Papachotamun To have mercy Kfcl}iv;elemeln To redeem Nihiilalatfchil To create Gifhelendammen To eat Mizin To believe Welfettammen To hear Pentamm To live Pommauchfm To teach Achgegimheen To preach Poemmetonhen Tojing Affinvi To die Angein Bad Machtit Good Wulh't Beautiful PfchikI Iroquois. Johnika Togefgezera Echro Unteraenaji Agotaeri Schungarawatgak - Ne Jechfai Waunteconi Watontat Wathontek Tajonhe c Garichwafclioh jo- L rlhonnie Wachtarhas Wateraenoto Jawoheje VVahetke Ojaneri Ojaneri. Wc muft not expeft to find arts and fciences amongfl the wild Indians, nor even any inclination to ftudy them. They are not only unable to read and write, but it is very difficult to give them any idea of t4aefe accomplifliments. If a written or printed paper, or book, is fhown them, and fomething read or fpoken of, as contained in it, fome imagine, that a fpirit fpeaks fecretly to the reader, dilating whatever he wiflies to know. Others think, that the paper, when written upon, can fpeak to the reader, but fo as to be heard by no one elfe. Therefore a letter, particularly it it be fealed, is confidered as a very facred thing. But they will not take pains to learn either to read or write. If any treaties of peace, contrails, or commercial pxpers, are re- quired to be delivered to the Europeans, figned by their chiefs, captains, or counfellors, they never do it themfelves, but get others to fubfcribe their names. Then each puts his mark to his name, which is often nothing but a crooked line, or a crofs, fometimes a line in the form of a turkey's foot, a tortoife, or of fome other creature. Some are even afhamed of their Indian names, and prefer the names given them by C 4 - the 14 Fabulous Account of their Origin. P. I, the white people. Some have learnt to write the initials of their new names. As they are ignorant of thefc arts, and their hiftory de- pends foleljr upon tradition, it follows of courfe, that inftead of a true account of fails, we hear nothing but fables con- cerning their origin and anceftors. For inllance, the Iro- quois fay, that the Indians formerly lived under ground, but hearing accidentally of a fine country above, they left their fubterranean habitations, and took pofleffion of the furface. The Delawares fay, that the heavens are inhabited by men, and that the Indians defcended from them to inliabit the earth : That a pregnant woman had been put away by her hulband, and thrown dov/n upon the earth, where {he was delivered of twins, and thus by degrees the earth was peopled. The Nantikoks pretend, that feven Indians had found themfelves all on a fudden fitting on the fea-coaft, but knew not how they came there, whether they were created on the fpot, or came from fome other place beyond the feas, and that by thefe the country was peopled. Others af- firm, that the firft Indians had their origi.i from the waters. However foolifh thefe traditions may be, they all feem to imply, that the Indians came from fome other country. Neither the Delawares nor Iroquois know any thing of their own hiftory, but what has been verbally tranfmitted to them by their fathers and grandfathers. They carefully re- peat it to their children, and to imprefs it more upon their minds, drefs up their ilory in a variety of figures. When the Delawares fpeak with the Europeans about their an- ceftors, they boaft that they have been mighty warriors, and exhibited many feats of valor. They delight in defcribing their genealogies, and are fo well verfed in them, that they mark every branch of the family, with the greateft precifion. They alfo add the chara61er of their forefathers j fuch an one was a wife and intelligent counfellorj a renov.-ned chief j a mighty warrior, or a rich man, &c. But though they are indifferent about the hiftory of former times, and ignorant of the art of reading and writing, yet their Ch. II. Chara5}erijlic Figures. 2^ their anceflors were well aware, that they flood in need of fomething to enable them to convey their ideas to a diftant nation, or preferve the memory of remarkabit- events at lead for a feafon. To this end they invented fomething like hieroglyphics, and alfo ftrmgs and belts of wamponi. Their hieroglyphics are charaQeridic figures, which are more frequently painted upon trees than cut in ftone. They are intended, either to caution again ft danger, to mark a place of fafety, to direct the wanderer into the right path, to record a remarkable tranfadlion, or to commemorate tlic deeds and atchievements of their celebrated heroes, and are as intelligible to them, as a written account is to us. For this purpofe, they generally chufe a tall well-grawa tree, ftanding upon an eminence, and peeling the bark on one fide, fcrape the wood till it becomes white and clean. They then draw with ruddle, the figure of the hero whofc exploits they wifh to celebrate, clad in his armor, and at his feet as many men without heads or arms as fell by his own hand. Thefe drawings may laft above fifty years, and it is a great confolation to the dying warrior, that his glorious deeds will be preferved fo lon^, for the admiration and imitation of poftcrity. As every Indian underftands their meaning, a traveller cannot gratify the feelings of his Indian guides in a more acceptable manner, than by flopping to exa- mine monuments of this kind, and attending patiently to their extravagant accounts of the prov/efs of their warriors. But thefe are frequently fo ridiculous and improbable, that it is a matter of furprife, hov/ they fhcjuid be able to invent fuch unaccountable ficbions. The warrior-, fometimes paint their own deeds and adventures ; fur inilince, the number of prifoners or fcalps taken j the number of troops they com- manded, and of fuch as fell In battle. Oliver paintings point out the places, where a company of Indians have been hunting, (bowing the nights they fpent there, the number of deer, bears. Sec. killed during, the hunt, &c. If even a party of travelling Indians have fpent but one night in the wood<;, it may be eafily known, not only by the fliudlure of their 4 flceping- 26 life of Wampom. ' ' P.I, keeping huts, but by their marks on the trees, to what tribe they belonged : For they always leave a mark behind, made either with raddle or charcoal. Wampom is an Iroquois word, meaning amufcle. A number of thefe mufcles fhrung together is called Sijtrhig of wampom^ which, when a fathom long, is termed a fathom or belt of wampom, but the word f ring is commonly ufed, whether it be long or (hort. Before the Europeans came to North America, the Indians ufed to make their firings of wampom chiefly of fmall pieces of wood of equal fize, ftained either black or white. Few were made of mufcles, which were elleemed very valuable and difHcult to make; for, not having proper tools, they fpcnt much time in linifliing them, and yet their work had a clumfy appearance. But the Europeans foon contrived to make firings of wampom, both neat and elegant, and in great abundance. Thefe they bartered with the Indians for other goods, and found this traffic very ad- vantageous. The Indians immediately gave up the ufe of the old wooden fubflitutes for wampom, and procured thofe made of mufcles, which, though fallen in price, were always accounted valuable. Thefe mufcles are chiefly found on the coafl of Virginia and Maryland, and are valued according to their color, which is brown, violet, and white. The former are fome- times of fo dark a fliade, that they pafs for black, and are double the price of the white. Having firfl fawed them into fquare pieces about a quarter of an inch in length, and an eiglith in thicknefs, they grind them round or oval upon a common grindflone. Then a hole being bored lengthways through each, large enough to admit a wire, whipcord, or thin thong, they are ftrung like beads, and \\\zf ring of wampom is completed. Four or fix firings joined in one breadth, and faflened to each other with fine thread, make a belt of wampom^ being about three or four inches wide, and three feet long, containing perhaps four, eight, and twelve fathoms of wam- pom, in proportion to its required length and breadth. This is determined by the importance of the fubjeft, which 6 thefe Ch. II. ^fi °f T^ampom. 27 tlieie belts are intended either to explain or confirm, or by the dignity of the perfons to whom they are to be delivered. Every thing of moment tranfafted at folemn councils, either between the Indians themfelves, cr with the Europeans, is ratified, and mSde valid by firings and belts of wampom. Formerly they ufed to give fan£lion to their treaties by de- livering a wing of fome large bird ; and this cufl:om fiiill pi-evails among the more wefi:eni nations, in tranfa£ling bu- finefs with the Delawares. But the Delawares themfelves, the Iroquois, and the nations in league with them, are now fufiiciently provided withhandfome and well-wrought fi:rings and belts of wampom. Upon the delivery of a fi:ring, a long fpeech may be made, and much faid upon the fubjeft under confideration : But when a belt is given, few "Ovords are fpoken, but they mufi: be words of great importance, fre- quently requiring an explanation. Whenever the fpeaker has pronounced fome important fentence, he delivers a ftring of wampom, adding, " I give this firing of wampom as a confirmation of vi^hat I have fpoken :" But the chief fubje£l of his difcourfe he confirms with a belt. The an- fwers given to a fpeech thus delivered, mufi; alfo be con- firmed by fl:rings and belts of wampom of the fame fize and number as thofe received. Neither the color, nor the other qualities of the wampom are matters of indifi^erence, but have an immediate reference to thofe things which they are meant to confirm. The brown or deep violet, called black by the Indians, always means fomething of fevere and doubtful import ; but white is the color of peace. Thus if a firing or belt of wampom is intended to confirm a warn- ing againft evil, or an earneft reproof, it is delivered in black. "When a nation is called upon to go to war, or war declared againfi: it, the belt is black, or marked with red, called by them the color of bloody having in the middle the figure of an hatchet, in white wampom. The Indian women are very dexterous in weaving the ftrings of wampom into belts, and marking them with dif- ferent figures, perfeftly agreeing with the different fubje6ts con- 2S Vfe of Wampom. P.L coi'tained in t^e fpeech. Thefe figures are marlccd with ■--hite wampcm upon the black, and with black upon the v/hite belts. For example, in a belt cf peace^ ihey very dcx- leroufly reprefent in black vampom, two hands joined. The aeit of peace is white^ a Fathom long and a hand's breadth. To diftinguilli one belt from the other, each has its peculiar mark. No belt, except the war-belt, mud fhow any red cclcr. If they are obliged to ufe black wampom for want of white, they daub it over with white clay, and though the black may fliine through, its value and import is confidered as equal to white. Thefe firings and belts of wampom are alfo documents, by which the Indians remember the chief articles of the treaties made eitlier between themfelves, or with the white people. They refer to them as to public re- cords, carefully preferving them in a cheft made for that pur- pofe. At certain feafons they meet to ftudy their meaning, and to renew the ideas, of which they were an emblem and confirmation. On fuch occafions they fit down around the cheft, takeout one ftring or belt after the other, handing it about to every perfon prefent, and, that they, rnay all compre- liend its meaning, repeat the words pronounced on its de- livery in their whole connexion. Ey thefe means they are enabled to remember the pro-.ufes reciprocally made by the different parties. And as it is their cuftom to admit even the young boys, who are related to the chiefs, to thefe af- femblies, they become early acquainted, with ail the affairs oi the (late ; and thus the contents of their documents arc tranfmitted to pofterity, and cannct eafily be forgotten. The foilov. i'-: i' 'lance may ferve to (liow how well this mode of communication anfwers the purpofe of recalling fulijet^s to their memory : A friend of mine, at Philadel- phia, gave an Indian a Ibing of wampom, adding " I am ycmr « friend, and will ferve you to the utmoft of my power." Forty years after, the Indian returned the ftring, faying, <* Brother, you gave me this ftring of wampom, faying, * \ «* am your friend and will icrve y«^u to the utmoft of «t my power.' I am now aged, infirm, and poor; do " now, CK. n. Arithmetic. 29 " now, as you promlfed." And he generoufly kept his \vord. Befidei? the above-mentioned methods, by which the In- dians commemorate certain events j they likewifehave fi^rigs in praife of their heroes, extolling their glorious exDlnits. Thefe are frequently fiing, but merely from memory. They teach them to their chiidrenj and thofe \fho love poetry, compofe more, fo that there is no want of them, r They require but very little arithmetic to keep- an account of their goods and chattels, yet they are not v»''holly unac- quainted with it. There are indeed fome nations in North: -America who can count to ten or twenty only, and if they wi(h to exprefs a greater number, point to the hair of their heads, (ignifylng that the number exceeds their powers of calcula- tion. But thofe nations who trade with the Europeans have learned to calculate pretty v/ell. The Cherokees count to one hundred. The Iroquois and Delawares underdand but little of our cyphers and letters, but they can count to thouiands and hundreds of thoufands. They count regulai-Iy to ten, make a mark, proceed to the next ten, and fo on to the end of the account: Then, by adding the tens, they find hundreds, thoufands, &c. &c. The women generally count upon tlieir fingers. Thofe Indians who underftand the value of money have Jearned it chiefly from the Englifli and Dutch. The Dela- wares call pence pemiig, "and (iiv^rs Jlipe!. If they want to calculate a fum of money v/jth exaclnels, they take Indian corn, calling every corn a penny or fliver. adding as many as are neceflary to make florins, {hillings, and pounds. Mod of them determine a number of years by fo many winters, fummers, fprings, or autum^is, fi nee fuch an event took place. Few of them know exactly how many years c!d they are after thirty. Some reckon frotu the time of an hard.froft or a deep fall of fnow iu fuch a year; from a war with the Indians, or from the building of Pittfburi'' or Philadelphia. For example, '* When Pittfburg was firll ** built, I was ten years oldi" or, "Iu fpring, when we boil " iugar, 30 Geography. P. I, " fugar, or when we plant, that is, next March, or next "May, I fliall be fo old, &c." They know as little of geograpiiy as of other fcietices. Some imagine, that the earth fwims in the fea, or that an enormous tortoife carries the world cA its back. But they have an idea of r^aps, and even delineate plans of countries, known to \hem, upon birch bark, with tolerable exaftnefs. The diflance from one place to another they never mark by miles, but by days journies, each comprehending about fif- teen or twenty miles. Thefe they divide into half or quarter day's journies, and mark them upon their maps with allpoflible accuracy. When they fend parties to war or to hunt, they, can defcribe the rond, and inform them pretty e::a£lly con- cerning the time required to perform the journey. An Indian feldom lofes his way in the woods, though fome are between tv\'o and three hundred miles in length, and as many in breadth. Befides knowing the courfe of the rivers and brooks, and the fituation of the hills, he is fafely dire£led by the branches and mofs growing upon the trees ; for towards the fouth the branches are fuller and ftouter, and there is lefs mofs upon the bark than towards the north. But if the fun (liines, he wants no other guide. They mark the boundaries of their different territories chiefly by mountains, lakes, rivers, and brooks, and, if pof- fible, in a ftrait line. Among the ftars, they know the polar ftar, and direcl their courfe by it in the night. When the fun fets, they think it goes under water. When the moon does not fliine, they fay (he is dead, and fome call the three laft days before the new moon, the naked days. Her firfl appearance is called her refurre£licn. If either fun or moon is eclipfed, they fay, the fun or tlie moon is in a fv/oon. The Delawares and Iroquois divide the year into winter, fpring, fummer and autumn, and each quarter into months. But their calculations are very imperfecl, nor can they agree, when to begin the new year. Mod of them begin with the fpring, fome v.'ith any other ^quarter, and many, who Ch. II. Divifions of Time. 2 1 who are acquainted with the Europeans, begin with our new- year's-day. However, they ail agree in giving fuch names to thdnnonths, as exprefs the feafon of the year. They there- fore call Marchf Chadfifh month, becaufe in this month this fifh pafles up the creeks and rivers in great numbers. April, Planting month ; Lidian corn being planted towards the end or in the middle of April. May has a name, flgni- fying the month in which the hoe is ufed for Indian corn. The name given to June, lignifies the month in which the deer become red : That of July, thetime of railing the earth about the corn, and of -^«^;//?, the time when the corn is in the milk. September \s called the firft month in autumn, and OJIoher thz month of harveft; November the hunting month, mofl of the Indians then going out to fhoot bucks \ and the name of Be^ cernber fhows that then the bucks call their antlers. January is called the fquirrel month, the ground-fquirrels coming then out of the holes ; and February the month of frogs j as the frogs generally begin to croak about that feafon. They do not divide their months into weeks, nor count the days, but always the nights. An Indian fays,. " I was travel- *' ling fo many nights." But if he did net flay from home all the night, he fays, *' I was a day's journey from home." They exprefs half a day, by pointing to that part of the heavens where the fun is at noon, and a quarter of a day by its rifing or fettlng. If they viafli to fpeak more accurately, they point to other marks, intelligible to them. By the courfe of the fun, they determ.ine the time of the day, with nearly as iriuch exactiiefs, as we do by a watch. An Indian fays, " I will be with you to-morrow when the fun " {lands in fuch a place." The grov.-th of the corn is alfo a mark of time: viz. " I will return when the corn is grown *' fo high : I will do this and that, when the corn is in bloom, *' or ripe." ^ They know nothing of the caufes of natural phonomena; nor do they defire to be informed of them. Thusder they conceive to be a fpirit dwelling in the mountains, and now and then fallying forth to make himfelf heard. Others ima- siue ^^ Worh of Art, P. r. glne it to proceed from the crowing of a monftrous turkey- cock in the heavens; others from enraged evil fpirits. As little as the Indians underftand of fciences, or wifh to be in{lru£led in them ; as little do they trouble themfelves in general about the works of art. They like to fee them, with- out afivitig how they are made, or for what ufe they are in- tended. But if you defcribe a man who is a fwift racer, or a great huntfman ; a good archer and markfman, or a clever failor •, a brave leader, courageous and (kilful in war, well ac- quainted with the country, able to find his way alone through an immenfe foreft, and to live upon a very fcanty pittance ; they then attend with great eagernefs, and know not how to extol the bravery and feiU of fuch a character fuffi- ciently. If you expe£t: them to value or admire any arV, It mufV have a reference to hunting, fifliing, or fighting. , To thefc you may fix their attention, and nothing gratifies their curiofity in a higher degree. They wilh immediately to inii- tate it, and m^any an Indian, who has never feen, hov/ this or the other piece of workmanflilp is contrived, attempts in his own way to execute it, and fpares neither labor nor time in the work. Thus mziyj of the Dekwares and Iroquois have learnt to make very r;^od rifle-barrels of common fowling- pieces, and keep them likewife in good repair, by which the life of thefe weapons has become pretty general among them and the Shawancfe. But thofe nations, which live further to the weft, and feldom fee rifle-barrels, muft be fatisfied with very indifferent fowling-pieces. The light boats, made by the Indians, and commonly called canoes, may be reckoned among the firfl produ6lions of their art. The beft are made of the bark of birch, faftened upon light wooden ribs, and ftrengthened by crofs pieces. The bark is fewed toget'ier with the flendcr fibres of roots, and till crevices carefully filled with fplinters and caulked with turpentine. The feats are placed acrofs, as in an European boat. They even build canoes, large enough for twenty rovi'ers j and fo light, that two or four men are able Ch. II. SuperJIit'ion of the Indians, 33 able to carry them. A canoe, which may be carried by two Indians, will bear two thoufaiui rounds freight. Thefe light veflels are very ferviceable for trade, both to the Indians and Europeans, on account ot the r.nn- ber of falls in the rivers ; which make it neceflary to un- load and carry both canoes and goods, perhaps many miles, by land, before they can venture into the water again. In rowing they muft take great care not to overfet, run. aground, or Itrike againft a rock, for is they fpring a leak,. it is not eafily ftopped. But we fliall I'peak more of this, when we treat of their fifliery. The great and almoft general indifference of the Indians towards the works of art chiefly arifes from this, that molt of their wants are eafily fuppiied, without the affiftance of much ingenuity. CHAPTER III. Of the religious Ceremonies and Superfiitlon of the Heathen Indians, BEFORE we enter upon a defcriptlon of the religious knowledge of thefe nations, it muft be obferved, that we confider it in its prefent ftate. For as the Europeans have lived fo long, both in their neighborhood and among them, it may realbnably be fuppofed, that the prefent religious notions of the Indians differ in many refpefts fronn thofe of their forefathers. That the Indians here fpoken of have fome fort of religion and mode of worfhip, cannot be denied"; but it is replete with grofs abfurdity, and entirely unconnefted. The prevailing opinion of all thefe nations is, that there is one God, or, as they call him, one great and good Part I. D Spirit, 34 Buperjiit'im of the Indians. V.l, Spirit, who lias created the heavens and the earth, and made man and every other creature : For that, v/hich may be known of God, is as well manifeft In theifi, atcording to Romans, I. 19, 20. as In all other heathen ; an■- In th.eir Ideas'* of man, they make a pfoper difbin£lion between body and foul, the latter of which is confidered by them as a fpirhual "and immortal being. ' Their ideas of the n-;t:ure. ct a fpirit do not preclude their, reprefenting good fpirits in an human form. But they obferve that thefe excel even the Indians, whom they confider as the moft beautiful of the human lac.e, in comelinefs and perfedlion. That they confider the foul as immortal, and even fuppofe a refurre£lion of rhebody, maybe inferred from their ufual manner of exprcffing themfelves, when they fay, " We In- " dians cannot die eternally ; even Indian corn, buried in " the groundj Is vivified and rifes again." Many believe in the tranfmigration of fouls, and imagine that they were with God before their birth, and came from him, or that they have been formerly in the world, and are now living over again. They fuppofe, that when the fouls have been fome time with God, they are at liberty to return into the world, and to be born again. But there are few Indians who ex- prefs their thoughts fo diflinftly upon this fubje6l. They believe th€ pld dotlrine of their anceftors, that all Indians, who have led a good life, will come to a good place after death, where they will have every thing in abundance, and may dance and make merry j but that all, who have lived in wickednefs, v/ill rove about without any fixed abode, and be reftlefs, diflatisfied, and melancholy. However, their moft exalted notions concerning the happy ftate of the good Indians in heaven, are not able to deliver them CK". HI. Supeijtition of the Itidianf, "- 3 y 'theTnfpojTi an unufual horror at the thought of death. They 4 alfo 40 Indian FenJIs and Sacrifices. P. I. alfo look upon the elements, almon: all animils, and even • fome plants, as fpirits, one exceeding the other in dignity and power. They facrifice to an hare, becaufe, according to report, the firft anct ilor of the Indian tribes had thnt name. To Indian corn they facrifice bears flefh, but to deer and bears, Indian corn ; to the fifties, fmall pieces of bread in the fhape of fifties : But they pofitively deny, that they pay any adoration to thefe fubordinate good fpirits, and affirm, that they only vvorftiip the true God, through them : For God, fay they, does not require men to pay offerings or adoration immedi- ately to him. He has '■herefore ,inade known his will in dreams, notifying to them, w} at beings they have to con- fider as maniitos, and what offerings to make to them The manittos are alio confid^red as tutelar fpirits. Every Indian has one or more, which he conceives to be peculiarly given to aflift him and make him profper. One has in a dream received the fun as his tutelar fpirit, another the moon; a third, an owl j a fourth, a buffaloe ; and fo forth. An Indian is difpirited, and confiders himielf as forfaken by God, till he has received a tutelar fpirit in a dream ; but thofe who have been thus favored, are fulJ of courage, and proud of their powerful ally. Among the feafts and facrifices of the Indians, five are the mofl remarkable, and each has its peculiar ceremonies. I will defcribe them as h-^ld among the Deiawares. The firft facrificial feaft is held by an whole family or their friends once in two years, commonly in autumn, feldom in winter. Befide the members of the family, they fome- times invite their neighbors from the adjacent towns, and, as their connexions are large, each Indian has ar; opportunity of attending ihore than one family feaft in a year. The head of liic f-.raily muft provide every thing. He calculates the requifite number of deer and bears, and fends the young people into the woods to procure them." When they have c a fmoke simod powerful enough to fufrocate the perfons thus con- fined, fo that, upon their being taken out, they generally fall dovwR in a fwoon. During this feaft a whole deer-lkin, with tlie head and antlers remaining, is raifed upon a pole, to which tliey feem to fmg and pray. But they deny that they pay any adoration to the buck, declaring that God alone is worfhipped tbroEgh this medium. To amufe the young people, a great quantity of wampom IS. thro'iim upon tlie ground, for which they fcramble, and lie that gets mofl 'is thought to be the beft man. At thefe feails there are never iefs than four fervants appointed, who iiave enough to do by day and night. Their pay confrfts in a fathom of wampom, and leave to take the beft of the pro- ^ilion, luch as fugar, eggs, butter, bilberries, &c. and ta lell them to ths guells and fpeftators for their own pro* £t. All feflivals are clofed wich a general drinking-bout. The mifiionaries had once an opportunity of feeing a burnt offering as performed by the favages in the neighs- Ijorhood of Friedenshuetten. When a boy dreams, that he fees a large bird of prey, of the fize of a man, flying towards him from the north, and faying to him, '* Road fome meat for me," the boy is then bound to facriiice the firil deer or bear he flioots to this bird. The facrihce is appointed by an old man, who fixes cn the day and place in which it is to be performed. Three (d'.iys previous to it, meflengers are fent to invite the gticils, fome of whom perhaps live at a diilance. Thefe ^£emble la fome lonely place, in an houfe large enou^'h tp contaja ^h. I£I. Indian Feajls and Sacrifices, 43 contain three fires. At the middle fire the old man performs the facrifice and hang', up the flcin ; tlie other two ferva to drefs the meat. Having fent for twelve ftrait and iupple Hicks, he faftens them into the ground, fo as to enclofea cir- cular fpot, covering them with blankets. He then rolls twelve red-hot ftones into the enclofure, each of which is dedicated to one god in particular. The largefl belongs, as they fay, to the great God in heaven j the feccnd, to the fun, or the god of the day; the third, to the night- fun, or the moon ; the fourth, to the earth ; the fifth, to the fire ; the fixth, to the water ; the feventh, to the dwelling or houfe-god ; the eighth, to Indian corn ; the ninth, to the weft ; the tenth, to the fouth ; the eleventh, to the eaft ; and the twelfth, to the north. The old man then takes a rattle or calabafli, containing fome grains of Indian corn, and leading the boy, for whom the facrifice is made, into the enclofure, throws a handful of tobacco upon the red-hot ftones, and as the fmoke afcends, rattles his calabafh, calling each god bj name, and faying : " This boy N. N. offers unto thee a fine ,'* fat deer and a delicious difti of fapan ! Have mercy on " him, and grant good luck to him and his family." He ^hen retires to the guells feated around the other fires to dinner : Two men being appointed to ftand at the fkin, fing and repeat all their dreams and vifions, asd the words of the bird of prey, till all have eaten their fill. Then another man rifes, and taking the calabafh, fings his dreams, flcipping acrofs the whole length of the houfe. Finally, the old man, feizing the fkin, and extending it upon his arms "w^th the head and horns towards the north, utters a peculiar inarticulate found, and thus clofes the ceremony. Befides thefe foleran feafts of facrifice they have many of lefs importance. Yv^hen facrifices are made for private par- ties, they invite guefts who do not belong to the family, and •who confume the whole dinner, the hoft and his family being Si;ere fpediators. Two of the miffionaries were once prefent at fuch a feaft,- and feated in a corner of the houfe appointed for them, •44 Indian J^eufis, ' " P. J. them, but not underftmding the language of the Indians, they could only obferve the order of the feaft, in the middle of the houfe lay a heap of Indian corn in the ear, 'around which v/ere placed pieces of boiled deers fiefh upon wooden flcewers. The guefls fat in folemn filence upori bears-fkins in rows, according to their families. Then four men went out before the door of the houfe, and made a fhort howl in a mournful ftrain : As foon as they re- turned, the whole company, confiding of about one hun- dred perfons, joined in a fhort fong. An old man then rnfe and fat down at the fire, in the middle of the houfe, where he was anointed by a woman with melted bears greafe. She firft poured it out of a bottle upon his head, and then pro- ceeded to anoint his breaft, fhouldcrs, and arms, a general filence prevailing. Soon after the old man began to pronounce fhort fen- tences as oracles, which were heard with great attention. Ha\-ing returned to his former feat, the whole company Joined again in a fong. After thiS; fix fervants were chofen, each gueft drawing a blade from a bundle of grafs, fix of which were marked. Thefe placed themfelves immediately behind the heap of Indian corn, and upon a fign given by the old man, made a proper diftribution of the deers flefh lying up6n it. This being eaten, all joined again in a third fong, which was follov/ed by another fign given by the old man •, upon M-hich the fei-vants began quickly to throw about the ears of Indian corn among the guefls, vi'ho fcrambled with great hafte and alacrity, every one endeavouring to fnatch up as many ears as he could. Tlie feaft was then concluded with burning the bones. An Indian will now and then, when hunting quite alone in the woods, offer a facrifice to enfure fuccefs. Having cut up a deer, and divided it into many fmall pieces, he fcatters them about for the birds, when, retiring to fome diflance, he amufes himfclf by obferving in what manner they devour the prey. If an Indian hunter hears an owl fcreech in the night, he immediately thrpws fome tobacco intq Ch. III. liidtan Feajls. 41- into the fire, muttering a few woTcts, and then promlfcs him- felf fuccefs for the next day. If they think, that the fouls of the dead are enraged, they offer both meat and drink offerings to pacii^y them. For a meat offering, either a hog or a bear is killed for the feaft : It matters not, who are the guefts, but the feaft is confumed in the dark, neither candle nor fire being lighted. Before tlie company begin to eat, an old man prepares a meal for the enraged fouls, fpeaks to them, and begs them to be paci- fied. He then tells the company that the fouls are fatif- fied. Rum is an effential ingredient in a drink offering. Before the guefts begin to drink, they walk to the grave, pour feme rum upon it, and an old man addrefles the foul, as above defcribed; then they muft drink the reft of the rum, till not a drop be left. Every woman whofe child dies in a foreign land, travels, if poffible, once a year to the place of its burial, and offers a drink offering upon its grave. Sacrifices are Ukewife made upon more trivial occafions ; for even in cafe of tooth-ach or head-ach, they ima- gine, that the fpirits are difpleafed and muft be pacified. Carver relates, that an Indian chief, who accompanied him , on his journey to the falls of St. Anthony, which are taken to be the habitation of the great fpirit, offered his pipe, to- bacco-pouch, bracelets, and car-rings, and prayed with great emotion to the fpirit to protect him. In great danger, an Indian has been obferved to He proftrate on his face, and throwing a handful of tobacco into the fire, to call aloud, as in an agony of diftrefs, *' There, take and fmoke, be pacified, and don't hurt me/* This has been conftrucd into a worfiiip of the devil. But our miffionaries have not been able to difcover any fuch worfiiip. The Indians abhor the devil, thinking that he is always intent upon doing themfome mifchief, by means of the white people, and under fuch apprehenfions, an Indian perhaps might endeavour to pacify him and prevent the con- fequences of his malice. Dreams are thought to be of great importance among the Indians, and nothing lefs than revelations from God. But 4^ tfecehers and Sorcer^ru P./, But as the Bible itfelf and the experience of the mifTionaries leave it without a doubt that Satan worketh in the children of difobedience (Ephef. ii. 2.), he may certainly influence the di-eams of the unbelieving Indians, and fome of them feem to bear evident marks of the interference of this evil Ipirit. Befides the Indian preachers, vSS defcrlbcd above, there are deceivers among them, who know how to turn their great tendency to fupevdition to their own advantage. Some of them pretend, that they can eafily bring rain down froni heaven. If fuch a deceiver fees fome tokens of approaching rain after a long drought, he tells the women who tend the gardens and plantation, that for a proper confideration of tobacco or fomething which he may have occafion for, he will foon put an end to the calamity, and grant them rain. Rejoiced to hear this, they gather together whatever they can afFord, to fatisfy him. He then goes to fome unfre- quented fpot, makes a circle upon the ground with a crofs in the middle, in which he places tobacco, a pumpkin and fome red color; then, fitting down, he begins to fing and fcream loud enough to be heard by the whole neighbor- hood, not ceafing till it rains, and thus frequently perfuadcs even the old and fenfible Indians, that he has procured rain by his legerdemain tricks. But fhould the figns of rain difappear, he finds it eafy to put the credulous people off to another day. Another fort of deceivers are called by them night-walk- ers. Thefe people fneak into the houfes in the night, and fteal what they can get. The poor Indians will not allow thefe men to be common houfe-breakers, but fay, that they bewitch the family into a profound fleep, fo as not to be dif- covered. The mod dangerous deceivers among the Indians are the. {o'Q.-i^&A. forcerers . Some are mere boafters, who pretend to great (kill and power, with a view to frighten the people, or to get a name, and fuch there is no reafon to fear : But there are among the different tribes wretches enough, whom the devil makes ufe of as his agents, to commit murder; and- Cli. III. ■ ^* l)£c elvers and Sorcerers. 47 and It is uXi additional misfortune, that tlicfe enemies oF mankind are feldoin knov.'n. They are" certain that their lives are in danger, as focn as they are difcovered to be forcerers. Thus they are very cautious of letting any one in the ieaft obferve their deftru£live art, and avoid being too free with liquor, lell they fliould betray themfelves in a drunken fit. Both tbefe -and the other deceivers, when they grow old, wifli to in^lruft others in their arts. They generally chuis boys of twelve or fourteen years old for their fcholars, whom they deceive by means of apparatioris in which they are the actors. The moft extraordinary ftories are told by thefe boys, of the fpeflres they have feen in the woods, when they were alone and full of apprehenfion. To one of thefe an old man appears in a grey beard, and fays in a foothing tone, " Do not fear, I am a rocky and thou fhalt ** call me by this name. I am the Lord of the whole earth, " and of every living creature dwelling therein, of all the ** fowls of the air, and of wind and weather. No one dare ** oppofe mc, and I will give thee the fame power. No one *' fhali do thee harm, and thou needeft not to fear any " man, if thou dofl fuch and fuch things." Then the ap- parition begins his inflrudlions in the black art, commonly in terms fo ambiguous and figurative, that their true fcnfc can hardly be found. But having received this mefisge In fo folemn a manner, the boy's mind ruminates upon it day an^ night, and as he grows up, he is confirmed in the opinion, that a peculiar power has been imparted unto him, to perforra extraordinary exploits. As he can receive no further infli-uc- tions from any one, he muft ftudy the theory and practice of his art by hirafelf : Though he even perceives, that he has been grofsly impofed upon, yet he is aflnmed to own it, antl wiftiing to preferve the characlcr of an extraordinary perfon, he continues in his diabolical practices till he grows old, ar. J then in his turn endeavours to deceive young boys, by th€ iams tricks which were played upon him in his youth. 4^ Drefs of the Indla/is. V. t CHAPTER IV. Of the Drefs, Dwellings, and Hotfekeepbig of the Indians* THE Indians pay great attention to their drefs and or- naments, in which indeed they difplay much fingula- rity, but little art. Their drefs is light, and they confider much clothing as a burthen. The men wear a blanket hung loofe over both (houlders, or only over the left, that the right arm may be free, and tie or pin the upper ends together. Formerly thefe coverings were made of turkey feathers, woven together ■with the -thread of wild hemp, but thefe are now feldoni feen. The rich wear a piece of blue, red, or black cloth about two yards long round their waiils. In fome, the lower feam of this cloth is decorated with ribbands, wampom, or corals. The poor Indians cover themfelves with nothing but a- bear's Ikin, and even the rich do the fame in cold weather, or put on a pellice of beaver or other fur, with the hair turned inward. Thefe are either tanned by rubbing in water, or fmoke-dried, and then rubbed till thev grov/ foft. Some wear hats or caps bought of the Europeans, others go bareheaded. The men never fufFer their hair to grow long, and fome even pull fo much of it out by the roots, riiat a little only remains round the crown of the head, form- ing a round cred, of about two inches in diameter. . This is divided into two tails, plaited, tied with ribband, and hang- ing down, one to the right and the other to the left. The crown is frequently ornamented with a plume of feathers placed either uprightoraflant. At feafts) their hair isfrequen^y decorated with filver rings, corals, or wampom, alid even with filver buckles. Some wear "a bandage' round thefr ■ hea(jls. Ch. IV. Drefi of the Indians^ 45> heads, ornamented with as many filver buckles as it will hold. They beftow much time and labor in decorating their faces; laying on frefh paint every day, efpecially if they go out to dance. They fuppofe that it is very, proper for brave men to paint, and always ftudy a change of fafliion. Vermillion is their favorite color, with v/hich they frequently paint their whole head. Here and there black llreaks are introduced, or they paint one half of their face and head black and the other red. Near the river Mulkingum a yellow ochre is found, which, when burnt, makes a beautiful red color. This the Huron v/arriors c:ii.£y ufe for paint, nor do they think a journey of one hundred miles too long, to provide themfelves with it. Some prefer blue ; becaufe it is the color of the fcy, when calm and ftrene, and, being con- fidered as an emblem, of peace, it is frequently introduced as fuch in their public orations. Tiierefore when they v/ifh to lhov\r a peaceful difpofition towards other tribes or natbnSj they paint themifelves and their bells blue. The figures, painted upon their faces, are of various kinds. Every one follows his own fancy, and exerts his powers of invention, to excel others, and have fomething peculiar to himfelf. One prides himfelf with the figure of a ferpent upon each cheek, another with that of a tortoife, deer, bear, or Fome other creature, as his arms and fignature. Some Indians bore a hole through the cartilage of the nofe, and wear a large pearl, or a piece of filver, gold, or wampom in it. They alfo decorate the lappets of their ears with pearls, rings, fparkiing ftones, feathers, flowers, corals, or filver crcfles, after having diflended and lengthened them as much as pofhble. A broad collar, made of violet wampom, is deemed a moft precious ornament, and the rich decorate even their breafts with it. The m.otl fingular part of their ornaments is difplayed in figures made by fcarification, reprefenting Pap.t L E ferpent^. 5^ Drefs of the Indians, P. I. ferpents, birds, and other creatures. The operation being per- formed with a needle, gunpowder is rubbed into the punc- tures, and as fometimes the whole upper part of their bodies IS filled with thefe drawings, they appear at a diftance to wear a harnefs. Sometimes by thefe decorations, they acquire a particular appellation, by which their pride is exceedingly gratified. Thus a captain of the Iroquois, whofe breaft was all orer covered with black fcarifications, was called the Black Prince. The intent of thefe ornaments is not to pleafe others, but to give themfelves a courageous and formidable appearance. A warrior therefore never drefles with more care and ftate- linefs, than when he goes to attend a council, or to meet the enemies of his country in the field. An Indian frequently appears in a white {hirt with a red collar, put over the reft of his clothes. They are likewife fond of getting a coat or hat laced with gold or filver. The girdles worn by the common Indians, are made of leather or the inner bark of a tree.' Their ftockings, which reach a good way above the knee, fupply the place of breeches. They are made of blue and red cloth without feet. Their fhoes are of deer-fkin, without heels, fome being very neatly made by the women. The fkins are tanned with the brains of deer, which make them very foft •, fome leave the hair upon the ficin, and fuch fur-flioes are remarkably light and eafy. The quarters are ornamented about the ankle with fmall pieces of brafs or tin, faftened with leather ftrings, which make an odd jingling, when they walk or dance. It is common for them to rub their bodies with the fat of bears or other animals, which is fometimes colored, with a view to make their limbs fupple, and to guard againft the fting of the mufquitocs and other Infe£ls. This operation prevents too great perfpiration, but it increafes their natural dark color, and gives them a greafy and fmutty appear- ance. A to- CIl. IV. Drefi of the Indians; 5I A wbacco-pouc'n is a moft effentlal piece of an Indian's furniture. It contains his pipe and tobacco, pocket-icnife, and tinder-box, which he always wears with a fmali axe and long knife in his girdle. Moft pouches are made of the whole fkin of a young otter, beaver, or fox, with an opening at the necki Thofe who chufe to add ornaments to the tobacco-pouch, faften pearls in the eye^fockecs, or get the "women to adorn them with corals. Some wear the claw o£ a buffaloe with a large pendulous pouch of deer-fkin, ftained with various colors^ and neatly worked. They are fond of a handfome head for their pipe, and pre- fer thofe made of red marble. But thefe are only ufed by the chiefs and captains, this fort of marble being rare, and found only on the MilTifippi. A more common fort are made of a kind of ruddle, dug by the Indians, living to the weft of the MiffiGppi, on the Marble River, who fometimes bring them to thefe countries for fale. As the Indians are all lovers of finery and drefs, the mar- ried men take care, that their wives adorn themfelves in a proper manner. The Delaware men pay particular atten- tion to the drefs of their women, and on that account clothe themfelves rather meanly. There are many, who would think it fcandalous to appear better clothed than their wives. The drefs which peculiarly diftinguifties the women, is a petticoat, made of a piece of eloth about two yards long, faflened tight about the hips, and hanging down a little below the knees. This they wear day and night. A longer one would be very troublefome in walking through the woods or working in the fields. Their holiday-drefs is either blue or red, and fometimes black, hung all round, frequently from top to bottom, with red, blue, and yellow ribbands, Moft women of rank wear JJ fine white linen fhift with a red collar, reaching from their necks, nearly to the knees. Others wear fhifts of printed linen or cotton of various colors, decorated at the bread E 2 with "5^5 Drejs of the Indians. P. I. with a great number of filver buckles, which are alfo worn by fame as ornaments upon their petticoats. The women fufFer their hair to grow without reftraint, and thus it frequently reaches below their hips. Nothing is thought more ignominious in women, than to have it cut off, which is only now and then done, as a punifhment for dif- orderly perfons. They anoint ic with bear's-greafe, to make it fhine. The Delaware women never plait their hair, but fold and tie it round with a piece of cloth. Some tie it behind, then roll it iip, and wrap a ribband or the fkin of a ferpent round it, fo as almoft to refemble a bag-wig. But the Iroquois, Sha- wanofe, and Huron women wear a queue, down to their hips, tied round with a piece of cloth, and hung with red ribbands. The rich adorn their heads witlv'a number of filver trinkets, of confiderable weight. This mode of finery is not fo common among the Delawares as the Iro- quois, who by fludying drefs and ornament more than any other Indian nation, are allowed to dictate the faftiion to the reft. The Indian women never paint their faces with a variety of figures, buc rather make a round red fpot upon each cheek, and redden their eyelids, the tops of their foreheads, andfome the rim of their ears and temples. They adorn their ears, necks, andbreafts with corals, fmall crofles, little round efcutcheons, and crefcents, made either of filver or wam- pom. Both men and women are fond of filver bracelets. Very fe-Cv of the Delawares and Iroquois women think it decent to imitate the men in fcarifying their fkin. Their flockings and fhoes refemble thofe worn by the men, only they wear a kind of clogs, made of linen, either with or wichout firings. For their dwellings, the Indians generally chufe a fituation well fupplied with wood and water, and for their plantations of Indian corii, a low and rich foil. ■■ '■ ' Their Ch. IV. Divelli:jgs of the Indians. 53 Their villages are therefore generally fituated near a lake, river, or brook, yet fufficiently elevated to efcape the danger of inundations, which are very commpn in fpnng Before their acquaintance with the Europeans, their dwell-, ings were nothing more than huts made of hark, lined vtMth. ruflies, and covered with either bark, ruflies, or long reed- grafs. The Iroquois and other nations at a diftance from the Europeans live flill in huts of this defcription. But the Dela wares have learned the ufe and convenience of block- houfes, and either build them thcmlelves, or pay European workmen fdr doing it. An Indian hut is built in the following manner : They peel trees, abounding with fap, fuch as lime-trees, &c. then cutting the bark into pieces of two or three yards in length, they lay heavy ftones upon them, that they may become flat and even in drying. The frame of the hut is made by driving poles into the ground, and ftrengthening them by crofs-beams. This frame-work is covered both within and without with the above-mentioned pieces of bark, faftened very tight with baft or twigs of hickery, which are remarkably tough. The roof runs up to a ridge, and is covered in the fame man- ner. Thefe huts have one opening in the roof to let out the fmoke, and one in the fide for an entrance. The door is made of a large piece of bark without either bolt or lock j a ftick, leaning againfh the outfide, being a fign that nobody is at home. The light enters by fmall openings, furnilhed with Aiding fliutters. The difference in the huts of. the Delawares and Iroquois confifts in the form of the roofs, the former being angular, and the latter round or arched. The Delaware families pre- fer living feparately, and their houfes therefore are but fmall, but the Iroquois build long houfes, with three or four fire- places, for as many families, whe are related and live to- gether. A number of thefe huts Handing together is called an Indian town ; and if lurrounded by pallifadoes, a forti- fication. In building towns, no regular plan is obferved, E 3 but ^4 Furniture^ Houfekeeping^ bfc. P.I. but every one builds according to his fancy. Nor have they rnany large towns. Their huts are neither convenient nor v/ell furnifhed. They are moftly low, neither divided into rooms, nor floored. The fireplace vs in the middle of the hut ; around which are placed benches or feats, rudely finiflied, which ferve likewife for tables and bcdfteads. The fame blanket that clothes theni by day, ferves for a covering at night, and the bed is a deer or bear-fKin, or a mat made of rufhes. Some even line the infide of their houfes or huts with thefe mats, partly by way of ornament, and partly to keep out the cold. They hang their flock of provifions and other necelTaries upon poles, fixed acrofs to the top of the hut. Formerly they kindled a fire by turning or twirling a dry flick, with great fwiftnefs upon a dry board, ufing both hands. Their knives were made of thin fiint, in a long triangular fhape, the long fides being (harpened. Their hatchets were wedges, made of hard ftones, fix or eight inches long, (harpened at the edge, and faftened to a wooden handle. They were not ufed to fell trees, but only to peel them, or to kill their enemies. Their pots and boilers were made of clay, mixed with pounded fea Tnells, and burnt fo hard, that they v/ere black throughout. Such knives., hatchets, and large broken pots, are ftill found in various places where formerly the Indians dwelt. But fince the Europear.s came into the country, the Indians are pro- vided with flirit and Heel, European knives and hatchets, and light brafs kettles. They make their own fpoons, and large, round difhes of hard wood, with great neatnefs. In eating, many make ufe of the fame fpoon, but they com- monly fup their viftualsout of the difh. Cleanlinefs is not common among the Indians. Their pots, difhes, and fpoons, are feldom waihed, but left for the dogs to lick. The Delawares rather excel the Iroquois ill cleanlinefs; and the Unamiand Wawiachtano tribes are much cleaner Ch.IV. ^ Firing, 55 cleaner tlian the Monfys. Yet there are fome houfes and huts amongthelroquols which have a clean and neat appear- ance, and afford a comfortable night's lodging for an Eu- ropean. The dogs being continually in the houfe and at the fire, they bring fleas in abundance. Bugs and other vermin are numerous; but it is remarkable that the common fly re- forts much more to the houfes of the Europeans than to thofe of the Indians. About the latter the glow-bug or fire- fly appears in large numbers in the fummer evenings. Their tails are as bright as a red-hot coal, and half a dozen of them put together calt light enough to read the fmalleft cha- racters. They are mod numerous in fwampy places, where their fwarms appear like innumerable fparks flying to and fro. The Indians keep a conflant fire burning in their houfes, which confumes much wood. There is pitcoal enough in the country, which in Pittfburg is ufed both in ftoves and fmiths' ihops, but the Indians do not value it, having abun- dance of wood. Formerly when they had no axes but thofe made of (lone, as above mentioned, they ufed to kindle a fire around large trees, and to burn them fo long till they fell ; then by applying fire to different parts of the ftem and branches, they divided them into fmaller pieces for ufe. This cuflom ftill prevails in fome places. They never think of fparing the foreft trees, for they not only burn more wood than is necefTary for houfe confump- tion, but deftroy them by peeling. The greatefl havock among the foreft trees is made by fires, which happen either acci- dentally, or are kindled by the Indians, who in fpring, and fometimes in autumn, burn the withered grafs, that a frefh crop may grow for the deer. Thefe fires run on for many miles, burning the bark at the roots of the trees in fuch a manner, that they die. A foreft of fir trees is in general ut- terly deftroyed by thefe fires. From thefe and other caufes, fire -wood at laft begins to be fcarce, and neceffity obliges them to feek other dwelling- E 4 placesj s;6- Marriages of the Indians. P. I. places, as the Indians cannat bear the trouble of fetc^'ng fire-wood from any diilant part. Thus the building of a new town is frequently undertaken merely for this reafon. CHAPTER V. Marriages and Education of Children amo?ig the Indians. / THE Delawarea and Iroquois inarry early in life, the men fometimes in their eighteenth, and the women in their fourteenth year, but they never marry near relations. According to their own account, the Indian nations were divided into tribes, for no other purpofe, than that no one might ever,either through temptation or miftake, marry a near relation, which at pn feat is fcarcely poflible, for whoever intends to marry, muft take a ptrfon ot a different tribe. With the Iroquois, it is not unufual to fix upon children of four or five years old with a view to future marriage. In this cafe the mother of the girl is obliged to bring a bafket of bread every week into the houfe of the boy, and to furnifh him with fire-wood. The parents of the boy muft fupply the girl with meat and clothes, till they are both of a proper age. The% marriage however folely depends upon their own free will, for there is never any compuHion. "When a Delaware girl is cut of order for the firft time, {he muft withdraw into aii hut at fome diftance from the village. Her head is wrapped up for twelve days, fo that ^e can fee nobody, and fhe muft fubmit to frequent vomits and fafting, and abftain from all labor. After this flie is v/afhed Ch.V. Marriages. 57 wafhed and new clothed, but confined to a folit^iry life for the fpnce of two months, at the clofe of which flic is de- clared marriageable. Other Indian nations obferve fewer ceremonies on this occafion. If an Indian man wi(hes to marry, he firfl: fends a prefent of blankets, cloth, linen, and perhaps a few belts of \v?.ni- pom, to the neareft relations of theperfon he has fixed upon. If they happen to be plcafed,. both with the prefent ar;d ihe characSter and condutt of the fuitor; they propofe the raatter to the girl, who generally decides a-^-reeably to the wifli of her parents and relations, and is afterwards led to the dwelling of the bridegroom without furt'^er ceremony. But if the other party chuies to decline the propofal, they return the prefeat, by way of a friendly negative. After the marriage, the prefent made by the fultor, is di- vided amongfl: the friends of the young wife. Thefe retuKi the civility by a prefent of Indian corn, beans, kettles, difnes, fpoons, fieves, bailcets, hatchets, &c. brougliX in folemn pro- ceffion into the iiat of the new-married couple. The lat- ter commonly lodge in a friend's houfe, till they can eredt a dwelling of their own. Some nations more to the wed loo:: upon adultery as a very great cnm.e, and punifh it with feverity, but the young people among the Deiawares, Iroquois, and other nations connecled witU them, have feldom marriages of long con- tinuance, eipecially if they have not children foon. Some- times an Indian forfakes his wife, becaufe fhe has a child to fuckle, and m.arries another, whom he forfakes in her turn for the fame reafon. The women alfo forfake the men, after having received many prefents, and knowing that they have no more to ex- pecl:. They then marry another, from whom they may ex- peft more. It frequently happens that the woman forfakes her huiband, becaufe fhe never loved him, and was only per- fuadcd by her relations to accept of liim. for a time, that they inight keep his prefents. The Indians therefore confider J their 58 Marriages. P.T. their wives as ftrangers. It is a common faying among them, '^ My wife- is not my friend," that is, (he is not related to me, and I need not care for her. However, not every Indian is fo very indifferent at the light behavior of his wife. Many an ore takes her unfaith- fulnefs fo much to heart, that in the height of his defpair he fwallows a poifoHous rooty which certainly kills him in two hours. Women alfo have been known to deftroy themfelvee for grief, on accou'it of their hufbands' treachery. To prevent this calamity they make ufe of a certain preparation called be/on [a medium between poifon and phyfic], to which they afcribe a magic power. They believe, that if fome of it is carried conftantly about by one of the parties, it will enfure the love and fidelity of the other. But if this is found out, the other party is fo offended, that the m.arriage is immediately diffolved, and no reconciliation can ever take place. Many Indians live very fociably in the married ftate, and keep to one wife. Thcfe regular families have the mofh children. Some indeed live peaceably ■with their wives, merely that they may not be feparated from their children. Others keep concubines, and though the wives do not fulfer them to live in the houfe, yet they connive at it for the fake of peace and on account of their children. But there is no very flrong tie between the married people in general, not even between the oldell. A very little trifle, or one bad word, furnifhes ground for a di- vorce. ^ Polygamy is permitted among the Delawares and Iroquois, but not as common as with other Indian nations, whofe chiefs may keep fix, ten, or more wives, and the common people as many as they can maintain. A Delaware or Iroquois Indian has feldom two, and hardly ever more wives: for their love of eafe renders domeftic peace a moft valuable treafure. The negroes and Indians intermarry without any fcruple. The Ch. V. Iloufekeephig^^c. 55 The Indians afFe£l an appearance of great coolnels towards their neaveil relations. AYhen the children and other kindred go to meet tlie father of the family, after ?. long abfence, he patTes by them with an haughty air, never returns their falutaticn, nor afiis how his cliiidren do ; for circumftances relating to his own family and kinfmen, feem indifferent to him in time of war. This cool behavior is generally thought a mark of a noble mind, but it would be a great miftake to infer, that they are dlvcfled of the feel- ings of nature. The houfekeeping of the married people is very different in a Delaware and an Iroquois family. The Delaware Indian hunts and fiflies, provides meat for the houfehold, keeps his wife and children in clothing, builds and repairs the houfe or hut, and makes fences round the plantations. The woman cooks the vi£luals, fetches fire-wood, and la- bors in the field and garden, though, as to the latter, the hufband will affift occafionally. But in managing the affairs of the family the hufband leaves the whole, to his wife, and never interferes in things committed to her.. She cooks vlcfuals regularly twice a day. If fhe negle£ls to do it in proper time, or even altogether, the hufband never fays a word, but rather goes to fome friend, being affured that he fliall find fomethlng to eat. Nor does he ever offer to put wood on the fire, except he has guefts, or fome other extraordinary call to do it. If his wife longs for meat, and gives him % hint of it, he goes out early in the morning without vitluals, and feldom returns without fome game, fhould he even be obliged to ftay out till late in the evening. When he returns with a deer, he throws it down before the door of the hut, and walks in, faying nothing. But his wife, who has heard him lay down Jiis burden, gives him fomethlng to eat, dries his clothes, ^nd then goes out to bring in the game. She may then do with it whatever fhe pleafes. He fays nothing if flie even jgiyec the greateft part of it to her friends, which is a very common 6o '■ Houfelieepwg^ SsV. P. I. common cuflroi-n. If the hufband intends to go a-hunting, or to take a journey, he gives his wife notice, and then fhe knows that it is her bufmefs to furnifli him with proper provifions. ^ If any diiTatisfacliion arifes between them, the hufband commonly takes his o;un and walks off into the woods, with- out telling his wife whither he is going. Somerimes he does not return till after fome days, when both parties have frequently forgot their quarrels, and live again in peace. Moft married people underil/and, that whatever the huf- band gets by hunting, belongs to the wife. Therefore, as foon as he has brought the Ikias and meat home, he conr fiders them as his wife's propei-ty. On the other hand, whatever the wife re^ips from the garden and plantation, belongs to the hufband, from which {\\t muft provide him with the neceffary food both at home and abroad. Some men keep the fkins, and purchafe clothes for tiieir wives -and children, tha* they may not be »in want. The cows belong to the wife, but the horfes to the hufband, who generally makes his wife a prefent of one for her own ufe. All this proves that the Delaware women live as well as the fituation of an Indian will permit. But the women are not fo well treated among the Iroquois. A wild Iroquois is proud of his ftrength, courage, and other manly virtues, and treats his wife with coolnefs, contempt, and often with abufe. He confiders every occupation but that of a h4inter or warrior in a defpicable point of view, and therefore leaves every other confideration to his wife. Thus the women have bufTnefs enough upon their hands. Tlie wife mufl not only do all the work in the houfe and in the field, but make, fences, keep the houfe in repair, and in general, perform all kind of drudgery. In travelling (he mufl carry the bundles, and fometimes her hufband's gun, and when he has fhot a deer, the wife muil convey it home. The Indian women are in general of a very ftrong bodily ccnflitutionj and feldom want any afTiftance In child-bearing. ^ They Ch. V. Education of Children. 6 1 They have no mid wives, but there are clever and expe- rienced, women enough, who are able to give both afliftancc and advice in time of labor. When the time approaches, they prepare every thing neceflary both for themfelves- and the child, nor do they defift from their ufual employment in the houfe, till about an hour or two before their delivery. Some very ftout women are delivered when alone in the foreft, and are capable of conveying the new-born infant home. After the bir:li, the infant is immediately laid upon a board covered v.'ith rnofs, and wrapped up in a Ikin or piece of cloth, little arched pieces of wood being faflened to the fides of the board, to hinder the babe from failing off; for when the mother is engaged in her houfehold work, fhe hangs this rude cradle upon fome peg, or branch of a tree- But this prac- tice gets more and more out of fafliion. Moft mothers fuckle their infants till they are two or more years old. If they cannot do this, foup made of Indian corn fupplles the place of milk. Though they marry very young, they have feldom more than hx children. Their love to them is" very great, and the favor of the parents is gained by nothing fo eafily, as by careffmg, or givir^g foj?iething to their little children. The niothers ge- nerally carry them in a bknket fj.fhered upon their backs. The ancient pernicious cuftom of feting the infant up- right upon a board, to which its feet vyere faft^ned with thongs, and of carrying the board with a'ftrap upon their backs, is almoft entiTely abolifhed. The many inflances of children being deftroyed by this pra£tice have m.ade it uni- verfally detefted. The children are always confidered as the property of the wife. If a divorce takes place, they all foijow her. Thofe indeed that are gi-own up, may ftay with the father, if they pleafe. Both parties are very defirous of gaining the love of their children, and this accounts for their conduct towards them. 1 hey never cppo.fc their inclinations, that they may • not 6z Education of Children. P. I. not lofe their affe£lIon, Their education therefore Is not much attended to. Their children have entirely their own will, and never do any thing by compulfion. The parents are very careful, not to beat or chafkife them for any fault, fearing left the children might remember it, and revenge themfelves on feme future occafion. Yet many well-bred children are found among them, who pay great attention and refpecl to their parents, and are civil to flrangers. This is certainly a confequence of the mild treatment they receive, for the contrary generally produces bitternefs, hatred, and contempt. They do not fpend much upon the drefs and equipment of their children. Boys go naked till they are fix years old. The firft piece of drefs they receive is a narrow flip of blue cloth paffing In a loofe manner between their legs, and faften- ed by a (Irap round their bodies. But the girls wear, a light coat as foon as they can walk. The father generally gives the child a name, either In Its fixth or feventh year, and pretends that It has been fuggefted to him In a dream. This is done at a facrifice, in a fong, and they call It " praying over the child." The" fame ce- remony Is performed, when an adult perfon receives a name of honor in addition to the former. But if It Is left to the mother to give a name, fhe ufes little ceremony, and calls it after fomc peculiar mark or charafter In it, for Inftance, the Beautiful^ or the Great Eye. If they do not love it, they chufc a difagreeable name for it. As the girls grow up, the mothers endeavour to Inflruffc them In all kinds of work, firft taking them as afliftants In the houfekeeping, and by degrees making them acquainted with every part of a woman's buCnefs. But the boys are never obliged to do anything: They loiter about, live as they pleafe, and follow their own fancies. If they do mif- chief to others, they are gently reproved, and the parents will rather pay twice or three times over for the damage done, than punifh them for it. As they are deftlned for liuntfmen and Ch. V. Educatiou of Children. 63 and warriors, they exercife themfelves very early with bows and arrows, and in {hooting at a mark. As they grow up, they acquire a remarkable dexterity in (hooting birds, fquir- rels, and fmall game. When the boy arrives at a proper age, he receives a fowling-piece or rifle-barrelled gun. The firfl: deer he {hoots, proves the occafion of a great folemnity. If it happens to be a buck, it is given whole to fome old -man, who makes a feaft of it for all the old men in the town. During this repafl, they give good counfel to the boy (who is merely a fpeclator), regarding the chafe and all the circum- ftances of his future life, exhorting him above all things to revere old age and grey hairs, and to be obedient to their words. They then join in prayer to God, to grant hira long life and happinefs. If he firft happens to kill a doe, he gives it to fome old woman, who treats the old women In the fame manner. Sometimes young boys are prepared in a moft fingiilar manner for the {Nation they are intended to fill in future, with a view to form a judgment of their capacity. They are made to fall fo often and fo long, that their bodies be- come emaciated, their minds deranged, and their dreams wild and extravagant. Frequent queflions are put to them on this occafion, till they have had, or pretended to have had a dream, declared to be ominous. The fubje£l being mi- nutely confidered and interpreted, they are folemnly in- formed, what will be their future deftination. The impref- fion thus made upon their minds is lailing, and the older they grow, the more earneftly they drive to fulfil their de- ftination, confidering themfelves as men of peculiar gifts, far exceeding all others. By virtue of thefe extraordinary revelations, they become phyficians, hunters, rich men, for- cerers, or captains, according to the tenor of the dream, or in other v/ords, they then willingly conform to the mode of life, planned for them by their parents and, relations. In their private life, they live without contronl, proud of their liberty, and following their own inclination?. In this the parents delight, and moft fathers boaft of the 64 Education of Childreriy iSc. P. I. the independence of their fons' mind. By their inflruc- tions and example the young people are taught from their infancy to fupprefs their palTions, and this is done in fo ef- fedlual a manner, that the proofs they e;:hibit of their com- mand of temper are truly aitonifhing. When the parents fee their children provided for, or able to provide for themfelves, they no longer care for tireir fup- port, nor i^\.o they even think of faving a good inheritance for them. For every Indian knows, that whatever he leaves at his death, is divided among his friends. If a woman becomes a widow, the relations of the de- ceafed take every thing belonging to him, and give it to their friend 3, without keeping a fmgle article. They a£t thus, becaufe they wlfti to forget death, and are afraid left the fmalleil part of the property of the deceafed fliould re- mind them of it. Thus the children have no more claim upon any inheritance, than the widow and other near rela- tions. But if a dying Indian leaves his gun or any other part ofhisfurniture to a particularfiiendjthe legatee is immediately put in poffeilion, and no one difputes Ids right. Whatever the hufband has given to his wife during his lifetime, remains her property. Therefore we need not w^onder that a married Indian pair iliould not have their goods in common: for other wife the wife would be left wholly dellitute after her hufband's death, and the hufband would lofe his all, when his wife dies. According to the ancient rule, a widow fliould not marry aq;nin within a year after the death of her hufband : for the Indians fay that he does not for fake her before that time, and then his foul goes to the manfions of departed fpi- rits. She muft however endeavour to live by her own induftry^ and commonly fuiFers great want, efpecially if flie has young children. She is not permitted to purchafe any. -meat, for the Indians are fuperftitioully perfuaded, that their guns wcruld fail, and prevent them from {hooting any more deer, if a widow fhould eat of the game they have kUled^ Ch. V. Food, Agriculture^ ^c. 65 killed. But ^o\v and then a kind friend wHl venture to tranfgrefs the rule, and give her fome meat. As foon as the firfl year of her widowhood is paft, the friends of her de- ceafed hufband clothe and provide for her and her children. They alfo propofe another hufband, or at lead tell her, that {he is now at liberty to chufe for herfelf. But if (he has not attended to the pfefcribed rule, but married within the year, they never trouble themfelves about her again. The fame is obferved, with refpecl to a widower, by the friends of his deceafed wife^ for they ftill confider him as belonging to their family. If he has remained a widower one whole year, they ge- nerally propofe a woman according to their mind, that he may foon marry again, and prefer a iifter of the departed, if one be living. 1 will further obferve, that the family connexions of the Indians are commonly very extenfive, on account of their frequently changing their wives. CHAPTER VI. Food, Agriculture, and Breeding of Cattle among the Indians. T *HE common food of the Indians confifts of meat, fi{h, all leguminous pulfe and garden fruit. Tliey cat almoft all animals th€y take by hunting, but deer and bears are their favorite food. Neither the Iroquois, Delaware, nor any nations in con- nexion with rhem, eat their meat raw, but frequently with- out fait, though they have it in abundance. Both near the Ohio and the Mufkingum are remarkably good fait fprings. They generally burfl: out near a fmall P^iiTl. F brook. 6(5^ Focdj Agriculture, ^c, P. I. brook, or upon a fandy ifland formed in it. But the in- dolence of the Indians is fuch, that they rather buy fait from the Europeans at a very high price, than take what God has given them. Their meals are not feived with great clean- linefs, and confifl chiefly of one difh. They eat when they are hungry, without any fixed time for it. In roafting they faften the meat to a fpit, made of hard wood. They are fond of mufclcs and oyfters, and fuch who live near an oyfter-bed will fubfifl for weeks together upon them. They alfo eat the land-tortoife, which is about a fpan broad, and rather more in length; and even locufts are ufed for food. Thefe come frequently in large fwarms, co- vering and deflroying even the bark of the trees. The principal pulfe of the Indians, is the fo called Indian corn (Zea Mays*). That cultivated by the Iroquois is a variety, differing from that planted by the Delaw^ares on the river Mulkingum. The former ripens fooner than the latter, which probably would never ripen in a colder climate. This is the chief produce of the Indian plantations. They chufe low and rich grounds near a river or brook, which fponta- neoufly yield plentiful crops for many years. But when the ftrength of the foil is exhaufted, they remove their planta- tions, for they know nothing of the ufe of manure, and have land enough. In mofi: places theymuft firft clear the land of trees orbrufli- wood. The former they deftroy by ftripping off the bark around the flem. Their plantations are furrounded with high fences, chiefly to keep off the horfes, which feed in the woods without a keeper. The time for planting Indian corn, is when there Is no further expeftation of a frofl, and the Indians judge of this by obferving the hazel-nut (coryllus avellana) in bloom. The culture of Indian corn "cofls the women much trouble, for the richnefsof the foil produces abundance of weeds. They ufed formerly the flioulder-blade of a deer, or a tortoife- * The Latin names are taken from Linnaeus. IhelJ, Ch.VI. Biody Agriculture^ ^c. 67 fhell, {harpened upon a ftone, and faftened to a thick ftick, inftead of an hoe \ but now they have iron fpades and hoes". The corn grows about eight feet high, with a (talk about an inch in diameter, and when unripe, is full of a fweet juice like fugar. The DeJawarcs and Iroquois drefs the Indian corn in twelve different ways: i. They boll it in the hulk, till foft' and fit to eat ; or, 2. Parboil it, and having rubbed the hulk off with (harp leys, wafh and boil it over again. 3. They roafl the whole ear in hot afiies, as it is taken from the flalk. 4. They pound it fmall, and then boil it foft. 5. They grind it as fine as flour by means of a wooden peftle and mortar, clear it from the hulks, and make a thick pottage of it. 6. They knead the flour with cold water, and make cakes about ahand's breath, and an inch thick. Thefe they inclofe in leaves and bake in hot afhes, putting live coals upon them ; and ufe them as bread. 7. They mix dried bilberries with the flour, to give the cakes a better relifh. 8. They chop roafled or dried deer's-flelh, or fmoked eels, into fmall pieces, and boil them with the corn. 9. They boil the grits made of it with frefh meat, and this is one of their moft common meals, with which they eat the bread defcribed above. 10. Theyroaft the corn in hot aflies till it becomes thoroughlybrown. Then they pound it to flour, mix it with fugar, and prefs it down forcibly into a bag. This ferves for citamon. 1 1 . They take the corn before it is ripe, and let it fwell in boiling water. It is then dried and laid by for ufe. The white people buy it in this ftate to make foup of, or foak it again, and ufe it with oil and vinegar as falad. 12. Theyroaft the whole ear, when grown, but Hill full of juice. This is a well- fiavored difli, but wades much. corn. They tlierefore like to have their plantations at feme diftance from their dwellings, that they may not be tempted to wafte fo much, or at leaft increafe the difficulty of getting it. They likewife plant a fpecies of pulfe, called ground-nut (arachis hypogoea), becaufe the root only is eaten. When they are boiled, they tafte almoft Uke chefnuts, but cannot be eaten rav/. F 2 In 6s I^ood^ Jgrtcultiirey bfe. P. I. In fome places tl :, plant the common bean (phafeolus vulgaris), which is generally eaten with bear's-flelh. Potatoes are originally a North American root, and are faid to have been firft brought to Europe by Sir Waiter Raleigh. They are cultivated by fome. They have four different forts of pumpkins (cucurbita pepo), of which bread is made by the nations more to the weftward •, the largeft of them is hung up by the Indians for winter ufe, as it will keep feverai months in that ftate. Melons grow by culture only. Cabbage, turneps, and other garden iluff, are noxv very common, the Indians having received the feeds from the Europeans. Agriculture is more attended to by the Ircquols than the Delawares, but by both merely to fatisfy their mod preiTmg wants, for they are even fatisfied with thofe eatable herbs and roots which grow without culture, efpecially potatoes and parfnips. Of the latter they make a ki'.-d of bread. They preferve'thelr crops in round holers, dug in the earth at fome diftance from the houfes, lined and covered with dry leaves or grafs. Tht y commonly keep the fituation of thefe magazines very fecrct, knowing that if they are found out, they mult fupply the wants of every needy neighbor as long as anv thing is left. 1'his may occafion a famine, for fome are fo lazy, that they will not plant at all, knowing that the more induftiious cannot refufe to divide their ftore with them. T'i.e induflrlous therefore not being able to enjoy more from their labor than the idle, by degrees contra£t their plantations. If the winter happens to be fevere, and the fnow prevents them from hunting, a general famine Cn- fues, by which many die. They are then driven by hunger to drefs and eat the roots of grafs or the inner bark of trees, efpecially of young oaks. The country is plentifully covered with plants, fhrubs,. and trees, which bear fruits. Strawberries grow fo large and in fuch abundance, that whole plains are covered with them as with a fine fcarlet cloth. They are remarkably well flavored. Goofe- Ch. VI. Foody Agriculture i l^c. ^^ Goofeberries (rlbesgroffularla),^/*?^^ currants (ribes nigrum), blackberries (rubus fruticofus), rafpberries (rubus Idseus), and bilberries (vaccinum myrtillus), grow in great plenty j the latter chieliy upon the hills. Red currants (ribes rubrum) are cultivated chiefly in gardens. There are two forts of cranberries ; the one grows in fwampy places upon a fhort (lirub, not as high as bilberry bulhes, which is our common cranberry (vaccinum oxycoccus), the other upon a fmall tree. The choahberry-tree (ribes nigrum Pennfylvanicum) bears a fmall black berry, the juice of which is fo exceedingly poignant, that it has the moft difagreeable efFeci upon the throat when fwallowed from which its name is derived. Mulberry trees (morus rubra) grow to a great height, and bear a brown fruit, which the turkeys feed upon eagerly, as they do alfo upon the leaves that drop in autumn. ^/V/d-j- (vitlsvinifera) are numerous, and grow I'emarkably thick and long in lovp- grounds. By their tendrils they fre- quently climb up the higheft trees, and defcend from their tops, to the ground. The grapes have a four tafte. On high lands the flioots are {lender and fhort, being fre- quently difturbed in their growth by the Indians fetting fire to the brufh-woodj but their grapes are fweeter, and wine may be made of them. The bears go often in fearch of vines, and always chufe the befl and fweeteft grapes. Among the different fpecies of cherry-trees, the clujler cherry (prunus padus) is remarkably prolific. Thefe cher- ries are black, about as large as currants, and grow in clullers. They are not eatable, but impart a delicious flavor and high color to brandy. The wood of this tree is well fuited for cabinet work. The red cherry tree (piunus Canadenfis) never grows above eight or ten feet high, is alfo very prolific, and bears its fruit in clufhers. They are f-^ldom eaten, their tafte refembling that of allum. The fand cherry (prunus cerafus) grows only in fandy ground. Tht tree is about four feet high, and the cherries crowd the branches in fach abundance; that they weigh them down to the gro-md. F 3 They 70 FodJ, AgricuUtit'e^ is^c. P. I, They have a delicious fmell, but are no larger than a muf- quet ball. They are preferred to other cherries for making cherry brandy. Befides the above-mentioned, there is another fpecies of cherry in great plenty, chiefly grov/ing on the banks of the Mufkingum upon an high and (lout tree, the wood of which is red, and very proper for cabinet work. The plt/vi tree (prunus domeftica) is common. The Indians prefer thofe bearing red and green plums, both of which have a good tafte and agreeable fmell. Peach trees (amygdalus Perfica) grow in fome places in great abundance j as alfo wild citrons (podophyllum pel- tatum). Thefe grow upon a fprig not above a foot in height, and have an agreeable tafte, between four and fweet. But the root is a deadly poifon, which will kill in a few hours. Crabs (malus fylveftris) grow in great plenty, and the Indians being very fond of fliarp and four fruit, eat them in abundance. The fruit of the pnpanv-tree (carica papaya) bears a beautiful fruit, in form and fize refembling a middle- fized cucumber, having a yellow fein, an agreeable fmell and tafte, and two or three kernels like almonds. Of the common chefnut (fagus caftanea) there are large woods. The fruit is rather fmaller than the chefnut of Europe, but fweeter and more palatable. When they are ripe, the Indians, to fave themfelves the trouble of gathering them, hew down the tree. They may be eaten raw, but are commonly boiled, and make a rich difh. Sometimes they are roafted like cofFee-beans, and a kind of beverage made of them, nearly refembling cofl-ee in color and tafte, but of a laxative nature. They have another kind of chefnut, which is large, but not fit to eat. Pinhephik (fagus pumila) is a flirub of about two yards in height, bearing a flower nearly refembling that of the chefnut-tree, but fmaller. The fruit is of the chefnut kind, oval, pointed at both ends, with a dark brown fliell, and in tafte like a very fweet hazel-nut. The CQ7nmon ivahini-tree (juglans regia) grows moftly \i\ low valleys and in a rich foil. It grows large and high, fpread- ing Ch. VI. Food i Agriculture^ ^c. 71 ing its branches remarkably wide. The nuts have a thin fhell, and the kernel is very palatable. Befides this, there are two fpecies common in this country, called the nvhite (juglans alba) and the blach walnut (juglans cinerea), deriving their names from the color of the wood, though, ftridlly fpeaking, the former is not white, but grey. The latter is of a dark brown, almoft violet, and is ufed by cabinet-makers for tables, book-cafes, and other furniture. The nuts of both have a hard fhell, and the kernel is oily, and but feldom eaten. The hiccory nut is a fpecies of walnut (juglans alba). One fort of hiccory has a rough bark and white wood, of a fine grain, and full of juice. The nut is enclofed in a thick, hard fhell, and has an agreeable tafte. But the other fort of hiccory with a fmoothbark bears a bitter nut, from which an ufeful laxative oil may be extratled. The Indians gather a great quantity of fweet hiccory nuts, v/hich grow in great plenty in fome years, and not only eat them raw, but extra£t a milky juice from them, which taftes well and is nourifh- ing. Sometimes they extradl an oil, by firfl roafting the nut in the fhell under pot-afhes, and pounding them to a fine mafh, which they boil in water. The oil fvvim- ming on the furface Is fkinimed ofF and ufed in their cookery. The butter or oil-nut tree (juglans nigra) grows chiefly in meadows, in a warm foil. The ftem feldom exceeds three feet in circumference, has many branches, and the leaves re- femble thofe of the walnut.- The nut alfo has a (hell like a walnut-lhell, but it is fofter, confulerably longer and thicker, and contains a much larger kernel, full of fweet-fmelling oil. The inner bark of this tree makes a good purple ftain, but is faid to vary its fliade with the month in which it is peeled off. The kazel-nut (corylus avellana) is exaclly like 'that of Europe. The Delaware: change their dwelling-place too often to cultivate orchards, but among the Iroquois fome are found. Neither of them know any thing of flower-gardens. F4 No 'Ji Foody Agriculture^ l^c. P. T.. No fruit-tree is fo much efteemed by the Indians as the fcaple (acer faccharinum), of which they make fugar. They have two fpecies, the foft and the hard maple. The fap of the latter is remarkably fweet. Tlie wood has beautiful veins, and is ufed in cabinet work. It grows chiefly about fprings, upon an eminence, and its flower is red. The foft maple yields more fap, but not of fo fweet a tafte.^ Nor are the veins of the wood fo beautiful. It grows chiefly in rich meadows and valleys, and has a white flower, {trait ftem, and fewer branches than the hard. The leaves are larger, and of a dark green color. The wood is fplit with more eafe, though Very tough and hard. The largell of thefe trees is about two or more feet in diameter. Thofe of a middle fize, young and ftill growing, yield the moft fap. The Delawares call it the flone tree, on account of the hardnefs of its wood, but the Iroquois, fugar tree. The fap is found in the greateft plenty and perfe6lion in fpring, which is about February on the Ohio and Mufkingum, and March in the more northern countries. Then the feafon of fugar-boiling commences, though near the Mufkingum, fugar IS boiled both in fpring, autumn, and winter, in cafe of need. The method of proceeding is as follows : Each family provides brafs kettles for boiling, and a number of fmaller and larger wooden troughs or difhes, made of bark, for receiving the fap. When every thing is prepared^ an oblique incifion is made in the tree, which is renewed twice or thrice during the time of its running, A thin wedge of about three or four inches bvoiid being forced into the lower part of the incifion, a funnel m.^de of bark is introduced, by which the juice- is conveyed into the wooden troughs or difhes. The fap flows moft plentifully, when it freezes at night, and tiie fun fhlnes in the day. At night it commonly ceafes to run, when the weather is either warm or rainy, or when it has not frozen for a night or two. The ftate of the weather determines the length of the flowing feafon to be one Ch. VI. Foodi Jgrlctiliurej ^c. 73 one or two months. Towards the end of it the fap begins to flow once or twice in great quantities both by day and night ; but after that, it is not fo good, and only fit for treacle. The fap, which is of a brown color, is put into brafs kettles, and, without any further addition, boiled upon a flow fire, till it becomes as thick as honey ; then more is added and boiled down, v/hich becomes of a ftill darker color. Out of thefe kettles it is poured into broad wooden dlfhes of about two inches in depth, and ftirred about in them till it is cold, by which the fugar is granulated, and be- comes as fine as the Weft Indian. If they have no difiies of this kind, they let it cool in the kettles, and form it into cakes, which, when cold, are very hard. This fugar is ufed by the Indians either to fweeten their vidluals, or in the place of bread : and it is thought more wholefome, and fweeter than our common brown fugar. Sugar-boiling is chiefly the employment of women, and they find it very lucrative. A kettle holding between fixty and feventy quarts, with two of a fmalJer fize for ladles, will boil with eafe near two hundred pound of fugar in one feafon, befides a confiderable quantity of treacle. There is feldom any want of fap, for the maple is uncommonly full of it. Inftances have been known, of one tree producing above three hundred quarts of good fap for fugar, and as much, more for treacle. About thirty-five or forty quarts of fap make one pound of fugar ; thus about eight pound of fugar, and as many of treacle, may be colledled from one tree. In common thefe trees will laft eight or nine years, and the fap flows, even when the ftem is cut all round. Tobacco (nicotianum tabacum) is originally an American plant, and was not known in Europe before the year i^S/t^ The Indians confider it as one of the moft eflential necef- faries of life. The fpecies in common ufe with the De- lawares and Iroquois is fo ftrong, that they never fmoke it alone, but mix it with the dried leaves of the fumac (rhu& ghbrum), or with another herb, called by them degohimaky the. 74 Foodj Agricultuvey^c, P. I, the leaves of wliich rcfemble bay leaves, or with the red bark of a fpecies of willovvj called by them red wood. The- common drink of the Indians at their meals is nothing but tlie broth of the meat they have boiled, or fpring water. But they likewife prepare a kind of liquor of dried bilberries, fugar and w^ater, the tafte of which is very agree- able to them. The wild Indians have a mofl infatiable inclination for fplrltuous liquors, and ufe them to excefs. Brandy, and par- ticularly rum, with which, alas ! the Europeans have made them acquainted, dcllroy more lives than all their wars. Breeding of cattle is flill lefs attended to by the Indians than agriculture. They would rather hunt game in the forells, than tend cattle at home. Some indeed have begun to keep black cattle to get milk and butter, but moil Indians arc fatlsfied with dogs, pigSj and horfes. Their dogs, efpecially thofe among the Delav/ares, are of the wolf kind: When irritated, they (how their teeth; but will never attack a wolf, though furioufly fet on. The pigs do not difFer from thofe of Europe. The horfe is a vei'y favorite animal with the Indians. They are never ufed in hufbandry, but only for riding, and are not well fed. They are commonly fent, with a bell about their neck, into the meadows or forefts to feek their own food ; and return fometimes by night only, to lick the earth, impregnated with urinary falts, in the neighbourhood of the huts. If the Indians want to ride, they muft firft go to the forefts to catch their horfes. Each Indian knows the found of his own bell, and the horfes the call of their mailer, and if he brings them corn, they are eafdy taken. Grafs grows in great abundance in fpring, fummer, and autumn, both in the open country and in the forefts. In rich foils it grows in fome places fo high that a man on horfeback can but juil reach the top of the ftalks. When it is withered, the Indians fet it on fire, both to make room for the new crop, and to deilroy young fprouts of trees. There Ch. VI. Foody Agriculturty Isfc. 75 There are alfo mnJJjrooms of different kinds, which are fo agree- able to the horned cattle, that they are hardly to be kept from difperfing in fearch of them. Many fprings are impregnated with common fait or faitpetre, and both black cattle and horfes refort to them in numbers. Befide the common horfe-fly, there is a fpecles which gives great uneafinefs to horfes and cattle of all kinds. They even attack men, penetrate through the flcin, and fuck fo much blood, that they fwell to the fize of a hazel-nut, and thea fall off. The Indians take but little pains to provide flore of winter- provifion for their cattle, for the fnow is feldora deep, and the weather generally mild. Thus the cattle can always find food, efpeciallyin low grounds, where the grafs remains green, and begins to grow plentifully towards the end of March, or beginning of April. A fpecies of winter-grafs grows even in winter around the fprings, which is much re- lifhed by the cattle. But in woodlands, the horfes find little more than the fmall branches of young trees, chiefly oifaf- fafras (laurus faffafras), which grows there in abundance ; except a fpecies of green mofs, growing upon the bark of mod trees, and much refembling hay in appearence. CHAPTER VII. Of the Manner of Hunting and Fijhing among the . Indians, HUNTING is the principal and moft neceffary employ- ment of the Indians, and next to war, the moft ho- norable. For this reafon, all Indians, but chiefly the De- lawares, are very expert and experienced huntfmen. The boys learn to climb trees when very young, both to catch birds and to exercife their fight, which by this method is ^6 Htintittg, P. I, Is rendered fo quick, that in hunting they fee objects at an amazing diftance. In detedling and purfuing game, thejr almoft exceed the beft-trained dog, in following its coiirfe with certainty. They run fo fxvift, that if a deer does not fall upon the firfh ftiot, they throw off their blanket, and feldomfail to overtake him. Their contrivances for decoying and fecuring the game are innumerable. They ftudy this from their infancy, and many remain whole years in the woods by way of practice. Formerly the chief weapons ufed by an Indian hunter were bows and arrows, armed at the point with a longifli Iharp ftone of a triangular Ihape. Even to this day> many ofthe weft and north- weft tribes make ufe of no other weapons. They have the advantage of the gun in not making the game fo ihy. The Delawares and Iroquois are now very expert in the ufe of rifle-barrelled guns. The Delawares, when at home, pra£tife (hooting at a mark. They are not un- acquainted with the ufe of the bow and arrow, but never employ them but to kill fuch game as are not worth powder and fhot. In purchafmg fire-arms and powder, a good hunter ufes particular caution, to have both of the very beft quality. Before an Indian fets out for a long hunt, he ufually fiioots one or more deer, and keeps a feaft of facrifice, inviting the old men to afuft him in praying for fuccefs. Some bathe and paint before they fet off, but the moft fuperftitious keep a faft both before and during the feafon. When they faft, they tafte nothing, but are neither gloomy nor diiTatisfied. They fay that fafting peculiarly helps them to dream, and in dreams they pretend to be informed of the haunts of the game, and of the beft method of appeafing the wrath of the bad fpirits, during the time of hunting. If the dreamer fancies that he fees an Indian, who has been long dead, and hears him fay, " If thou wilt facrifice to me, ** thou flialt fl-ioot deer at plcafurc i" he immediately prepares a facrifice, and burns the whole or part of a deer, in honor ^f the apparition. Ecfides Ch.Vn. Hunting. 77 Befides this ceremony, moR hunters endeavour to procure a hunting hefon^ to which they afcribe the power of procuriBg them fuccefs. The be/on is a preparation made by old men, who are no more able to hunt, confifting of roots, herbs, and certain feeds, fold by them at a high price. There are feveral forts, but every one is defirous to get the beft, if it Ihould even coft him the greater part of his property. One fort of be/on is taken inwardly, and occafions a violent vomiting, but this is not in common ufe. According to their opinion the befon will prove mifchievous, unlefs every ceremony annexed to its ufe is attended to with the mofb fcrupulous exa£lnefs. If a huntfman fhoots nothing for feveral days, he fwallows a fmall dofe, and obferves the rules prefcribed to him in the fi:ri6lefl manner. If another day pafles without fuccefs, vvithout doubting the efficacy of his befon^ he afcribes his ill luck to fome other caufe, frequently to the prefence of a mifiionary. Some falfely pretend, that they can deprive the deer of their fmell, and bring all the game they wifh for within gun-lhot. When a whole party goes out to hunt, they chufe the mod expert for their captain, particularly if he is a member of the council. He mud watch over the due obfcrvance of the cuftoms, ufual in hunting, for inftance, that no one leaves the party, till the feafon is at an end. If one has fliot a deer, but another has followed and killed it, the fkin belongs to the firft, and either the half or whole of the meat to the lat- ter. If feveral cake aim at once,'but they cannot determine, which of them killed the game, the fkin is given to the oldeft of the party, even if he did not flioot with them, and he is then fa id to have killed the animal. Old men therefore, though no more able to Ihoot well, generally get their fliare of {kins, if they only flioot now and then, though they do not hit the mark. The flefh is always divided into equal fhares, but the old men are firft ferved. They have in ge- neral, but the Unaniis in particular, a cuflom, that when a huntfman has ihot a deer, and another Indian joins him, or only 7? ^ladrtipeds. ' P.I, only looks at a diftance, he .mmediately gives him the whole animal, and goes in purfuit of another. The Indians commonly flay three or four weeks, and often feveral months, at their hunting places. During the rainy feafon, the inundations are fo fudden, that they are fometimes obliged inftantly to take to their boats, and much game perifhes in the low grounds. Some who do not chufe to join a hunting party, go either alone, or take their wives and children with them, and build bark huts in the wood, as a place of rendezvous. When thefe fingle huntfmen kill a deer, they take the ikin and as much of the flelh as they can carry ; the reft they hang upon a tree for the ufe of fuch who pafs that way. The meat brought home is either im- mediately eaten, or roafted and laid up in ftore. The prime pieces are cut off and ftuck on fkewers into the ground on that fide of the fire towards which the fmoke is driv^en, being frequently turned round. When they are well done, they are taken off, and when cold, put into a bag, or flrung upon a cord, and hung in the air. Autumn is the beft feafon for hunting, comprehending the months between September and January, the game being then fat, and their Ikins in perfedlion. They chiefly hunt deer. The North American deer (cervus elaphus) are red from May to September ; when they caft their coat, and nature provides them with a grey and very clpfe fur for the winter. They have an acute fmell, and fhed their horns in January. In running, their tail, which is about a foot long, ftands up- right, and the infide being white, is feen at a great diftance. They generally bring forth in June. White deer are feldom feen in thefe parts. Thefe have generally in fumrner fome red, and in winter fome grey fpots.» The Indians call a white deer the king of the deer, and be- lieve that the reft flock about, and follow him. Further north, efpecially about Onondago and the great lakes, the deer are much larger than on the Mulkingum } and about Ch.VII. ^imlrupeds, ^g about two hundred miles to the fouth-wcft, they are much fmaller. In former times the Indians killed only as much game as they wanted for food and clothing, as the drefs both of the men and women was made entirely of fkins. Thefe animals of courfe were then very numerous every-where. But now, when a large bucklkin fells for a Spanifh dollar, the game is purfued for the fake of trade, and a clever huntfman will {hoot from fifty to one hundred and fifty deer in one autumn, and confequently they mud decreafe very fail ia number. The Indians prefer hunting deer in large companies. Having furrounded a confiderable tra£t of country, they fet the dry leaves and grafs on fire. The poor anirnals fly to- wards the middle to efcape the flames, and the hunters clofing in upon them, by following the fire, kill them with certainty, fo that hardly one efcapes. As the principal object in llioot- ing them is their Ikin, the flefti is left in the foreft, and de- voured by the wild beads and carnivorous birds. The North American Elk (cervus alces) is a much larger but more timid animal than the deer, almoft equal in fizc and bulk to an horfe. They are not met with near the rivers Ohio and Muflcingum, but faid to be in great numbers further north. The elks feen now and then in the country of the Iroquois, come from Canada. The moofe deer does not differ much from the elk in figure, except that its legs are longer and its tail fliorter. The De- lawares and Iroquois hunt neither elks, moofe deer, nor buf- faloes. The Buffaloes (bos bifon) are taller than the common oxen. Their horns are chick, {l:ort, and black. Their heads are broad, with much hair on the forehead, hanging over their eyes, which, with a long beard, gives them a fright- ful look. They have a bunch upon their backs, covered with long hair, or rather with a foft down, of a brown or moufe color, mixed with the fame lon Recount of the mifchief they do.. ^ADRUPEDS: The Panther of North America (felis difcolor) Is of the fize of a large fliepherd's dog, about four feet long,, with fitiall fliort ears, a thick head, like a cat^ fhort legs, (harp- claws, and a long tail. The fkin is of a grey color, mixed with reddifli hair. Its cry refembles much that of a childj but this is interrupted by a peculiar bleating like that of a goat, which betrays it. It gnarls over its prey like a cato Its flefli is eaten by many, and the flun furniflies a very warm covering,. The" panther lives in thick woods, and frequently climbs ^rees to lie Tn wait for hogs, deer, and other animals. It pofleffes aflonifhing flrength and fwiftnefs in leaping and feizing, irs prey, but if it milles its aim at the firft fpring, it never attempts a fecondV When it has killed an animal, it iicvour& but a fmall part, and when again prefled by hunger^ feeks new game. When hunted, even with a fmall dog, it never attempts any defence on the ground, but leaps into a tree, from which it darts upon its enemy. If the firfl fhot mifles, the hunter is in imminent danger.. They do not at- tack men in common, but if hunters or travellers approach a covert, in which a panther has its young, their fituation is pe- rilous. Whoever flies from it, is loft. It is therefore ne- ceflary for thofe threatened with an attack, gently co with- draw, walking backward, and keeping their eyes fixed upon it, and even if they mifs their aim in endeavouring to fhoot it, to look the more ftedfaftly at it, Indian courage and pre- fence of mind is required to do this, but many a-one has faved his life by this expedient. The moft terrible enemy of the deer, elks, and moofe deer, 35 the Cii^unr (Jelis concolor), in fize about as big as a wolf. It feizes its prey, either from an ambufli, or it climbs a tree, ■^nd watches till one of the above animals approaches foe 4 fhelter. th, VII. '^mdrupecis, S3 Shelter, when It darts upon its prey, feizes Its throat* and throws It down ; then winding its long tail round its neck, devours it with eafe. The only means for the poor animal to fave itfelf, is immediately to run towards a lake or river, when the cuguar leaves its hold, being extremely averfe to water. The bears are much afraid of it, and even fly from its carcafe. T\ic Mountain-cat (fells catus ferus) refembles In (hape a common cat, but is much larger, having reddifh or orange- colored hair, with black ftreaks. It is very favage, and will even attack deer, leaping upon their necks like a cuguar, and fuelling their blood. They generally piirfue hogs. The North American IVolves (canis lupus) are in flze fmaller than thofe of Europe : grey, and fometimes black. They are very numerous, but as their Ikins are not much valued, the Indians purfue them merely as rloxioiis animals: for now and then they break into their hunting huts, fteal their game, or tear their deer-lkins. They attack men but feldom. The Indians even tame them, a!id ufe them as ^pointers. They are terrible enemies to deet, and fometim.ea go out in purfuit of thefe innocent animals in large troops, howling dreadfully. There is a fpecies of IVild boar (fus fcrofa) not fo large a.? tame pigs, but otherwife the fame in appearance, and much eaten by the Indians. On the banks of the Ohio and Mulkingum, red, grey, and black Fjxes are numerous j on the MilTifippi, fdver-colcred are met with. The Racoon (urfus lotor) Is fomewhat larger than a com- mon cat : it has a pointed fnout, and makes ufe of its fore- paws, both to convey its viftuals to its mouth, and to dig up fmall mufcles out of the fand, when it cannot get acorus or chefnuts. Its hind legs refemble thofe of a bear. It Is fatted in autumn and winter, when it Jives in hollow trees, like a bear, without feeking food. In a ferere winter it re- tires for two whole months, otherwife only for four weeks'. Its flefn is wholefome, and tailes mugh like that of a bear, and its hair i-s ufeful to hatters. t4 ^adt'iipe(^s. P. J, The Ottery or Minx (muflela lutra Canadenfis), is very com- mon, and if clofely purfued will attack dogs, and even men-. In fummer it lives upon fifli, but in winter upon bark and field fruits. Its flefh is unwholefome, and never eaten but in a famine. Sometimes the otter has been known to tako a long journey over land, croffing frora one brook to another. Another fpecies of otter lives in the fame manner, but its peculiarity confifts in a fur, of a deeper black than any other animal, fo that it has become proverbial in America. Its tail is round, and without hair. It lives chiefly in the neighborhood of the fprings of rivers, and fmells of mufk. T\it Porcupine (hiftrix criftata) is never feen near die Muf^ kingum, feldom near the Ohio, but frequently in the country of the Iroquois. It lives in hollow trees, and climbs them- pretty nimbly. The Indians eat it with great relifli; its flefh taftes like pork, and is commonly fat. The American porcupine differs from that of other countries, in {hape, and in the length of its quills. It is about the fizc of a common dog, in fhape fomething like a fox, but its head refembles a rabbit. Its quills are of a dark brown color, the largeft being about the thicknefs of a flraw. Thefe are" its weapons, and as it cannot run fwiftly, it always turns its- back towards its enemy, and no dog attacks it with im- punity. The Opoffum (didelphis opofTum) is about a foot long, of a greyifh white color, and carnivorous. If it finds a dead deer, it creeps into the carcafe, and devours it. It climbs trees, and fleeps hanging to a branch by its tail. If a man approaches it unawares, it never attempts to efcape j but liea down as dead, not moving a limb, though handled and turn- ^■d about-, but when again left to itfelf, creeps ofFflyly, as foon as its enemy is retired to fome diftance. The female has a bag under her belly, in which fhe carries her young, till they grow too large for this receptacle, and then begin to run after her. If (he meets with a fallen tree in her pafl'age, 2 flie- Ch. VII. ^adrupeds. 8j •fhe either walks round, or lifts her young one by one over the ftem, and then proceeds on her journey. When purfued, the opoflum takes refuge in a tree, and hangs upon the fmallefl branches ; where its enemy dares not venture to follow. The flefh of this creature taftes like pork, and is eaten by fome white people, but not in general by the Indians. The Coa/i (viverra naiua) is fomewhat fmaller than a beaver ; the legs much refemble thofe of the beaver, but its body is fliaped like a badger, and its head like that of a fox, except that the ears are fhort, round, and bare. It climbs trees, for their fruits, efpecially nuts, which it conveys to its mouth with its fore-paws- The Indians think it good food, efpecially in the nut feafon. The Badger (urfus meles) burrows in the ground, and feeds on grafs, water-melons, and pumpkins- It chews the cud, and when purfued, if far from its hole, climbs trees for fafety. Its flefli is reliflied by the Indians. The Stijlujg iveafel^ or Skunk (viverra putorlus), is rather fmaller than a common ferret. Its fur is fhining, of a dirty grey color, interfperfed with black fpots, and its tail long and bufhy, like that of a fox. Its common haunt is the thicket. It has a gentle and mild countenance, but goes out of its way for no creature whatever, and whoever approaches too near it, is ill rewarded for his curiofity. For when in fear, or irritated, it ejects from its hinder parts a moifture, in- tolerably foetid, upon its purfuer, to the diftance of feveral feet, filling the whole atmofphere for near an hundred paces with a flench fo offenfive, that no human creature can bear it even for one minute, and exceeding every thing naufeous in the animal creation. Cloaths infefled by it muft be buried a long while in frefn foil, before the bad fmell va- nlfhes ; and the wearer muft bathe and wafli himfelf all over, before he can appear in company. If it touches the eye, it occafions the greateft pain, or even utter lofs of fight. A dog, whom the fkunk has thus befprinkled, runs about howling, as if cruelly beaten, and rolls on the ground G 3 to 8<^ Quadrupeds, ' p. I, to get rid of tlie pain or ftench. The flefli of tliis animal is wholefome and well-flavored, if the bag containing the ftinking moifture be carefully extracted. But if in per- forming this operation one drop is fpilt, the whole houfe and every thing in it is immediately pervaded to an intole- rable degree. This creature is very troublefome when it gets into cellars and ftorehoufes, for no one will venture to drive it away by force, 9s its ftench would do infinitely more da- mage than its depredations. There is a fmall wild animal in the country of the Iro» quois, called Martin (muftela martes), but probably belong- ing to the Sal?/e tribe (muftela zibellina). Their furs being inuch valued, the Indians catch them in wooden^raps, and fell the fklns to the white people, The Hares in thsfe parts (lepus timidus) are fmall and not numerous, being continually purfued by birds and beafts of prey. Towards the north they are of the fame fize as thofe In Europe, and fometimes found with a fnow-white fux-. The Ondathrai Zibet (caftor zibethlcus), or Miijk-rat^ fo named from a great quantity of odorous matter found in its body, is not much larger than a water-rat. It is alfo called by fqme the beaver-rat, its appearance fomewhat refcmbling that of a beaver. Its tail however is not proportlonably broad, but ovah It builds its dwellings with nearly the fxme art as the beaver, chufmg the neighborhood of a i"iver, though able to live, entirely upon dry ground. Its food is leaves and roots in winter, and ftrawberries, rafpberries, and other field-fruit in fummer. This animal does much da° mage to mill-dams by its burrowing. There are feveral forts of Squirrels in North America, of ''rt^hich the grey fquirrel {{cinxus niger, cinereus, vulgaris) is the largeft, and the red^ the fmalleft in fize. Both thefe ai^e rarely met "svith ; but black fquirrels are every where in great numbers. Their flefli is tender, and eaten by the Indians in cafe of ficknefs, but not as common food. The ^rwrn^y^w/rr^/ (fciurus glis) lives under ground, and Is fomewhat fmaller than a common rat. They do great damage Ch.VlI. • Serpents. ' -Bp damage to the Indian corn, pumpkins, and water-melons^ When the Indian corn is ripe, they lay in a good ftore of ^t for the winter, with as many hazel-nuts, chefnuts, and acorns, as -they can get. Their (loreTioufes are frequently found to have feveral compartments- each containing one kind of fruit. "J^hejiyifig fqiiirre'/ ((cmrus volans) has a thin membraneous corclnuation of the Ikin of the fides and belly, b\ 'which its iijnd and fore-legs arc connected. This Supports it in icap- i.ig or flying from one tree toanother. if the diftance be not loo great. But k cannot.raifeiifelf from off the ground. SERPENTS •Abound In the countries of the Delawares and Iro- •quois, with great variety. The mofl dangerous are the Rattlefnakes (crotalus horridus), of which there are two fort«, blas_'' and yellow. The latter are the largeft, being when full grown nearly fix feet -long, and nine inches in circumfe- rence. Their -ikin is beautifully marked. The back is irown, intermixed with a reddifli yellow, and crofled by a great num^ber of jet black ilreaks, diverfified 'with 'fportive tints of 'gold. Their belly :is of a 'light 'blue. The black .rattlefnake jias the fan-jc variety of ftreaks, but of a darker jQiade.' Both kinds have two fmall very fharp teeth in the upper jaw, which they draw in and out with great fwiftnefs and force. Thefe have a fmall bag at the root, which difcharges a poifonous juice, when they bite. The rattles at the end of their tails, from which thefe ferpents derive :their name, are .rings of a horny fubftance, connected together like .the links ■of a chairi, one being added every year, till tliey 'have about twenty. When the rattlefnake .ftirs, .thefe rings -rattle and betray him. They feldom attack paflengers, ;but never go out of their -v.'-ay, lying quiet, till .they perceive danger ; thea they rattle with their itail, coil themfelves together, with :their heads eredl in the centre, and in this form dart two or .three times v»'ith great fury at their enemy. Their bite im- anediately occafions a fever, with a cold Shivering, the wound i)eglns to fvv-ell, and the fwelling fpreads in a fiiorttime over -the whole body. In hot weather their bite is fometimes at- •G 4 -taidcji B8 Serpents. P.I, tended with indant death, but the Indians ave fo weU-ac- quainted with the means of cure, that there are but few inftances af death occaQoned by the bite of this fcrpent. A bead, bitten by a rattlefnake, may recover in twenty- foir hour?^, with proper management. If negle6i:ed, death is ine\itable. Pigs are excepted from the dreadful efFe£ls of their bitt^ they will even attack and eat them. It is faid, that if a rattlefnake is irritated, and cannot be revenged, it bites itfelf, and dies in a few hours. This animal is faid to poflefs anotlv.r peculiar property, viz. that of gazing with fixed eyes upos. a bird or fquirrel, and by a kind of fafclnation, flupifying them in fuch a manner, that the poor creature falls from the bough, and becomes an eafy prey to its enemy, who by lick- ing it all over, and covering it with a kind of flime, fa- cilitates its paflage down its throat. The rattlefnakes in- habit rocky, mountainous, and uninhabited places, and are extremely prolific. Towards the end of the year they creep into their holes, and twift themfeives together, having to ap- pearance but little life. About the time of their revival in fpring, many die, and they have been found lying dead in large heaps, infe£ting tlie air with an intolerable ftench. Our miffionaries have difcovered a fmall fpecies of the rat- tlefnake, near the river Muflcingum, of hardly one foot in length. No. ferpent is found in thefe parts in fuch numbers us the rattlefnake. Many other kinds of ferpents are found in tlie Indian country of different fizes, colors, and propertiesj black, yellow, cop- per-colored, green, and variegated. Some can climb a tree, and are faid to enchant birds and fquirrels like the rattle- fnake. Some are fuppofed to emit a poifonous breath, and perhaps the magic power of the rattlefnake confifts merely in this property. Others are flrong enough to feize upon the largeil birds of prey, when attacked by them, and to fqueeze them to death, twilling their bodies about them. Some live in tlie water, and prey upon lifh. They are not all poifonous 3 per])aps fuch only being armed with poifoii Ch.VII. Lizards, Frogs, '^c. 89 polfon in whom there is a want of ftrength. Moll of thenx firft cover their prey with flime, and then fwallow it whole, by flow degrees, and feemingly with pain. All ferpents call their coat in fpring, and then appear ia- their greateft beauty. The new Ikin of the large black fer- pent is a fine fliining jet. ■There are but few Lizards (lacerta) in the country. Of the L^/;^-/cr/(?i/^ (teftudo coriacea) there are feven or eight fpecies of various colors. The fmalleft are the moft beautiful, but their bite is counted venomous. The largeft American Frog is the Bull-frog (ran a boans). It inhabits rivers and large brooks. They are about fix times as large as the common frog, and receive their name from their croaking, which refembles the bellowing of a bull, but is far more penetrating. A few bull-frogs will make a noife, almoll too much for human ears to bear, efpe- cially at night. The common frog (rana pipiens) is brown, does not croak, but has a , note, like a fliort whiflle. In fpring they arc heard all night. The Iroquois catch them at night by the light of a torch, and eat them either frefh or dried. Green frogs are but rarely met with in rivers and brooks. The Tree-frog lives upon trees, either cleaving to the bark or creeping into the crevices. Their color fo exactly re- fembles that of the tree, to which they attach them.felves, that they are hardly to be diftinguilhed from it. In fome places they aflemble in fucii numbers in fummer, that the ears of pafTengers are al mo ft itunncd with their croaking. BIRDS. The common Eagle (falco leucocephalus) has a white head and tail, and builds its nefc in the fork of fome loftv and thick tree. It lays the foundation, with a great quantity of branches, repairing it every year. The ftrength and courage of this bird are remarkable. Every morning it goes out in fearch of prey, and returns to the neft with birds, fquirrcls. 90 sirdso ?.r. fqulrrels, fnaltes, and fiflies, for Its young. Flfh now and then prove dellruclive to them : For in attacking large fifh, It fometlmes cannot difengage its talons foon enough, but is drawn under water and drowned. The eagle is parti- cularly fond of young game, but when hungry, will pick up mufclesj and carrying them to a great height in the air, drop them upon a rock, in order to open them. This fpecles of the eagle is numerous; but there is another, which our mif- fionaries jjfave feen nowhere but on the banks of the Ohio and Mufictngum. The Indians call it thzfofked aagle {^PiXca furcatus) from its tali being forked. It foars to an aftcn'lQi- ing height. If it approaches the dweiiings of the Indians, they always look upon it as a token of change of weather or rain. It feecis upon fnakes and otlier creatures like the white-headed eagle, but is continuaily on the wing during Its repaft. It builds upon high trees, but in as concealed a manner as pofSblc The Crane (ardea grus) is commonly found upon large plains, and near to rivers. When hit by a fliot, it attacks its purfuer, and has great power in ftriking with its wings. The Indians eat its flefh, but not in common. IVild Sivans (anas cygnus) are numerous both on the Ohio and Mulklngum. According to the account of the Indians, their flelh tafles iike that of a bear, and is fat. In the countries bordering upon the great lakes, a very large fpecles of fwan is found, called the Trumpeter ^ from his voice re- ■fembling the found of a trumpet. The Pelican (pelicanus onocrotalus) has a larj^e bag hang- ing from its nether jaw, which is the receptacle for the fifli it gathers for its young. As they are generally bloody when drawn out, this may have given rife to the fable of the pelican's feeding its young with its own blood, drawn from its breafc. Wild Geefe (anas anfer ferus) appear in fpring and autumn, and remain long in tlie country. Some continue during the winter, others only during tlie fummer. Moft of them pafs into a' warmer latitude towards winter, and go to the north in fummer. Ch.VII. Blr^^. ^I fummer, where tliey build in the neighborhood of the great lakes, and return in autumn with their young. Wild Turkeys (maleagris gallopavo) flock together in ati- tumn in great numbers, but difperfe in the woods towards fpring. They are larger than the tame turkies, and com- monly perch fo high upon the trees, that they cannot be fhoc but with a ball. In winter their plumage is of a fliining black, but changes in fummer to a light brown, wirh white fpots upon the wings. Their eggs are much fought after, and reliflied by the Indians. There is a fpecies of wild turkies, which are not eatable, their flefli having a mofl dif- agreeable flavor. Oiv/s are in great number and variety, feme large, others fmall, but all very noify in the woods at night. The large •white owl (ftrix nyftjea) and the liti/e owl (ftrix paflerina) go in quefl; of prey even at mid-day. The Fi/Ijif2g-hawk or Ojpray (falco hali^stus) feizes upon its prey with aftonifhing velocity. They fay, that when it hovers over the water, it poflefles a power of alluring the fifli toward the furface, by means of an oily fubftance con- tained in its body. So much is certain, that, if a bait is touched with this oil, the fifh bite fo greedily, that it appears as if it were impoflible for them to refift. The Heron (ardea Americana) has long legs, large wings, and a lean body. There are two other birds of prey, which live upon fifh, but I cannot find their names. One is larger than an ea^rle ; the other fmall, and builds its nefl in the earth, digging its way into deep banks, and forming avenues to its neft, juft wide enough to creep in. The Night-hawk or Goat-fucker (caprimulgus Europaeus), called alfoYiight-fwallow, is rather fmaller than the common hawk, flies extremely fwift, and is feldom feen but in the dufk of the evening, when it frequently purfues the traveller, wantonly flying about his head. Thefe birds flock together, and fly very Iiigh in the air before a thunder ftorm ; tov/ards evening they approach the dweiling-houfes, perching upon the 5J ^^>^-f. V. r. the trees, and finging with a mournftil note, till toward mid- night. If one of them happens to perch upon the roof of aa jioufe, the fuperflitious Indians believe, that it forebodes fonie great misfortune. Their appearance in fpring may always be confidered as a certain fign that the froft is over. The hoopoe^ raven^ crow, and pigeon-hanvht are very com- mon. Phcnfants (phadanus Colchicus) are not valued by the Indians, and the woods v,-ould fwarm with them, had they not fo many deftruftive enemies among the birds of prey. They multiply very fafl:, one hen laying above tvyenty eggs at a time. In winter they fhelter themfelves from the birds of prey under tlie fnow, and run thus a confiderable way from one place to another. The Wild Ducks (anas fcrus) are birds of paffage, like the ■wild geefe, but there are fome kinds in America that ftay there during the fummer feafon. One kind builds its neft in hollow trees, hanging over the water, and when its young arc hatched, it throws them into the river, and fwims off to fome ©ther part. The Loon (colymbus) is larger than a duck, but not eatable. It is noted for its fwiftnefs in diving, and therefore difficult to fhoot. The Indians make pouches of its llcin, large enough to hold their pipe, tobacco, flint and fteel, knife, &c. The Partridges (tetras perdix) are fmall. They are moflly found in cultivated grounds; their flefli is tender, and of a iine flavor. A few green Parrots (pfittacus) are feen in the woods in lummer, but are in greater numbers further to the fouth. The white Gull (larus) is frequently feen near rivers and lakes. The Wild pigeon (columba migrator ia) is of an afh grey color. The cock is diftinguiflicd by a red breaft. In fpring they take their paffage to the north, and in autumn return to the fouth. In fome years they flock together in fuch num- bers, that the air is darkened by their flight. Wherever they alight, they make as much havock among the trees and garden* Ch. VII. ^inh. ^5 garden-frulfes as the locufts. The noife they m.^ke Is fo in- tolerable, that it Is difhcult for people near them to hear, ot tinderftand each other. In the year 1778 they appeared hi fuch great numbers, that the ground under their reiling- places was covered with their dung above a foot high, during one night. The Indians went out, killed them with flicks, and came home loaded. They delight in Ihooting thefe wild pigeons, and fometimes kill thirty at a fhot. At night, ft party of Indians frequently fally out with torches made of ilraw or wood, and when they get among the birds, light them. The pigeons being dazzled by the fudden glare, are eafily knocked off the bi'anches with flicks. Such a party once brought home above eighteen hundred of thefe birds, which they killed in one night in this manner. Their flefh has a good tafte, and is eaten by the Indians either frefh, fmoked, or dried. When the Iroquois perceive that the young* pigeons are nearly fledged, they cut down the trees with the neils, and fometimes get two hundred young fronx one tree. The Turtle-doves are fmaller than the wild pigeons, and always fly in pairs. The Mocking-bird (tardus polyglottus) is fomewhat larger than a thrulh, and in great numbers. Its fong is much like that of a nightingale. The latter is feklom feen in America. But this mimicks the notes of other birds, and even the barking of a dog, and mewing of a cat. The Wipperivill is grey, fmaller than a turtle-dove, a'.:d generally found in corn-fields. It has received its name from the found of its voice, which is heard all night long. The Blue-bird is fo called from its color, which is a beauti- ful azure. It makes its appearance in fpring before any other fummer bird. There is a bird in thefe parts, called by the Indians; the bird of the Great Spirit^ and probably a fpecies of the bird Qi paradife. It has a beautiful fhape, and is as large as a fwallow. Its neck is a light green, and four or five feathers, three '44 ^iP^'ing. p. r; three times tKe length of Its body, variegated with gold and purple, extend from its tail. ^nipei^ woodpeckers of different forts and colors, thruflies with red breads, fwallows, ftarlings, cat-birds, finches, tom-tits, and wrens, are every where found in great numbers. The Colibri (trochilus mellifugus) is the mod beautiful of all American birds, and confiderably fmaller than the wren. The beauty of its plumage is beyond defcrlption. One fpecles of thefe birds has a creft upon its head of the mofh fplendid colors, its bread is red, and the belly white : The back, wings, and tail, are of the richeft light green, which, intermixed with tints of gold, cover the reft of its body. It flies like a bee about the flowers of the field, and without perching about them, fucks their honey, which is its only food. This has given it the name of the honey-bird. As it iiies very fwift, and makes a buzz in tlie air by the ruftling of its wings, it has alfo received the name of humming-bird. FISHING, I am now to defcrlbe one of the moft fiivoritc diverfions of* the Indians next to hunting, namely, that oi filling. Little boys are even frequently feen wading in fhallow brooks^ iliooting fmall fifhes with their bows and arrows. The Indians always carry hooks and fmall harpoons with them, whenever they are on a hunting party ; but at certain feafons of the year they go out purpofely to filh, either alone, or in parties. They make ufe of t!ie neat and light canoes made of birch-bark, as defcribed above, for this purpofe, and not only venture with them into fpacious rivers, but even into the large lakes, and being very light, the waves do not break into them as eafily as into European boats. They caulk them with the refiwous bark of a fpecies of elm, which tlicy flrft pound, to prepare it for ufe. Another kind cf canoes are made of the ftems of large trees cf light wood, chieBy Cli.VIL ^iJlAng, ^^ chiefly cyprefs. Tliefe flems are excavated cKieily by fire, and nniflied with an hatchet. They look like long troughs, and are of various fizes. There is a particular manner of fifliing, which is under- taken in parties, as many hands are wanted, in the following manner: When the Skad-JiJJj (clupea alofa) come up the rivers, the Indians run a dam of ftones acrofs the ftreamj where its depth will admit of it, not in a (trait line, but in two parts, verging tov.-ards each other in an angle. An open- ing is left in the middle for the water to run ofK. At this opening they place a large box, the bottom of which Is full of holes. They then make a*rope of the twigs of the wild vine, reaching acrofs the flream, upon which boughs of about fix feet in length are faftened at the diftance of about two fathoms from each other^ A parry is detac|ied about a mile above the dam with this rope and its appendages, v/ho begin to move gently down the current, fome guiding one, forae the oppofite end, whilft others keep the branches from finking by fupporting the rope in the middle with v.'oodcrs forks. Thus they proceed, frightening^ the fifhes into the opening left in the middle of the dam, where a number o£ Indians are placed on each fide, who ftanding upoivthe two legs of the angles, drive the fifhes with poles, and an hideous jioife, through the opening into the above-mentioned box or cheft. Here they lie, the Vv-ater running off through the holes in the bottom, and other Indians ilationed on each fide of the cheft, take them out, kill them and fill their canoes. By this contrivance they fometlmes catch above a thoufand Ihad and other filh in half a day. In Carolina the Indians frequently ufe fire in fifiilng. A certain kind of filh will even leap into the boats, which have fire in them. Among thofe fifhes, with which the rivers and lakes in the countries belonging to theDelawares and Iroquois are molt plentifully ftocked, the following deferve to be men- tioned'. The The Eagk-fijh has no fcales, and its flefh taftes well. In th^ fiver Mulkingum they are fmall, but very large in the rive:? Ohio. There is a fifn much refembling the eagle-filh in Ihape, for which I can find no name. It has an excrefcenc