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Of the Panieses, and their Practices.

219

ed times for their public assemblies; a fire was kindled in the temple, into which the Powahs cast the most valuable riches of the people, voluntarily brought by them, as skins, beads, hatchets, and knives. The Indians north, though not disposed to imitate their example, admired this supposed piety, imagining it the reason that the plague or yellow fever had not raged there, which had depopulated their country.

The Panieses seem to have been a singular kind of aristocracy in a community of warriors. They were selected from their companions in childhood, and trained to sufferings, and daring exploits, men of stature and strength, courage and wisdom. They were the counsellors of the king, surrounded his person in battle, and though painted and disfigured, were always known, in scenes of blood and death, the terror of their foes.

Horrible were the severities or penances they inflicted on themselves. They denied themselves pleasant meat, and observed a variety of rules, that Hobbamock, or the devil, might appear to them. They drank the juice of bitter herbs till they disgorged it into a vessel, then drinking it again and again, till they were overcome and scarcely able to stand they bruised and tore their flesh to make themselves so acceptable to the devil, that he would appear to them. Their Powahs were dexterous fellows, and probably adepts in the secrets of legerdemain. According to the report

220

Mode of Warfare.

of the Indians, they could make water burn, rocks move, trees dance, change themselves into blazing men. What is more marvellous, they could burn an old tree to ashes in the winter, when there was not a green leaf in the whole country, put the ashes into water, and take thence a green leaf, which you might handle and carry away. They could change a dry snake skin into a living snake, to be seen, felt, and heard. Fine showmen these! Bows and arrows were their principal weapons in war. Their captains had long spears, on which, if victorious, they bore home the heads of their chief enemies slain in battle, it being their custom to cut off the heads, hands, and feet of their slaughtered enemies, which were carried to their families as tokens of their victories. Always when they engaged in war, they painted their faces with a variety of colours, to disguise themselves, and appear more terrible. They wore to battle their most costly jewels and dress, to remind themselves that they fought, not only for wives and children, but their goods and possessions. Their battles were rude assaults, without discipline or order.

The country was divided into small tribes or kingdoms, the son, or nearest relative, inheriting the government of the father. Their laws were few, but their kings were greatly beloved and revered. Some of these might be called emperors, having a number of kings under their direction.

Government, Marriages, Hospitality. 221′′

Plotting against the life of the king, and murder, were punished with death. The malefactor was arraigned before the king and his nobles; if condemned by a jury, the executioner entered, blindfolded the victim, set him in public view, and with a club beat out his brains. They had no prisons,

these are the appen

whipping posts, or stocks; dages of civilized society. The kings took care of the aged, the widow, and fatherless. The sachems married none, but of royal rank; their concubines might be from inferior families; these were put away at pleasure, but the wife retained her rank, and the government of the other women during life..

Every kingdom had its known limits. The common people were generally content with one wife. In marriage, the consent of the king was required, who as priest joined their hands, "never to part till death," unless she prove an adulteress. Hospitality is the cardinal virtue of savages, from the line to the poles. In New England, travellers and strangers generally lodged in the house of the king. When they arrived, they gave information how long they would tarry, and provision was made for them accordingly.. Though their fare was scanty for themselves, they were generous to their own countrymen, or the English, who called upon them; sometimes lying abroad, that the stranger might sleep in their cottage. They ate sitting on the ground, or rather reclining in the

222 Mode of Hunting and Fishing.

Turkish manner, with their victuals on the earth, without plate, napkin, knife, or fork, without bread, salt, or drink.

Hunting and fishing were their principal employments. Deer and other animals, they shot with arrows. Sometimes they built two hedges, a mile or two distant at one end, gradually ap proaching together at the other, where only a narrow gap was left open; there they placed themselves, killing every creature as it passed through. Here they sometimes set a curious species of trap, or terrible snares, formed by bending down young trees, which would spring with force sufficient to raise the largest animal. An Englifh mare having once strayed away, was caught, and like Mahomet's fabled coffin, raised between the heavens and earth, in one of these snares; the Indians arriving, and seeing her struggling on the tree, cried, "Good morning, what cheer, what cheer, Mr. Englishman's squaw horse." He having no better epithet than woman horse; but being afraid of her "iron feet," he ran and told the English where they could find their squaw horse hanging

on a tree.

They perfectly understood when and where to seek for fish of every kind in their particular season. Scals were favourites, the oil being in high esteem. Their bows, and arrows, and cords, were nicely made; their canoes were of birch bark, in which they would venture into a rough

Gaming, Education, &c.

223

sea, or of logs burned hollow, and smoothed with clam shells, the outside being hewed with stone

axes.

They were great gamesters, often losing every particle of property they possessed, yet being as cheerful and goodnatured as those, who won all. They often played town against town, and sometimes they played kingdom against kingdom; the people of one nation meeting those of another, to to run, play ball, &c. On these occasions they always painted themselves, so as not to be known, that if any injury was done, mischief should not follow from revenge.

Their children very young, were taught to swim and to manage the bow. Their dress was formed

of beasts. They were

entirely from the skins grave in their deportinent, and not loquacious ; but emphatical in' their expressions, and impressive in their manner. The Frenchman, say they, · has à good tongue, but a false heart; the Englishman, all one speak, all one heart. An Indian once hearing an English woman scold at her husband, her rapid expression exceeding his apprehension, he fled from the house, but stopping at the next neighbours, he described the dismal scene, by telling them she cried, Nan Nana, Nan Nana, Nan Nana, Nan, saying, the husband was a great fool to hear her so much, and chastise her so little. Domestic jars were unknown among them. They smiled and were cheerful, but never laughed loud, and never quarreled with one another.

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