I Have Also Known Several Of Them That Were Slaves
To The English, Learn Handicraft-Trades Very Well And Speedily.
{No Dwarf.}
I never saw a Dwarf amongst them, nor but one that was Hump-back'd.
Their Teeth are yellow with Smoaking Tobacco, which both Men and Women
are much addicted to.
They tell us, that they had Tobacco amongst them,
before the Europeans made any Discovery of that Continent.
It differs in the Leaf from the sweet-scented, and Oroonoko,
which are the Plants we raise and cultivate in America. {Indian Tobacco.}
Theirs differs likewise much in the Smell, when green, from our Tobacco,
before cured. They do not use the same way to cure it as we do;
and therefore, the Difference must be very considerable in Taste;
for all Men (that know Tobacco) must allow, that it is the Ordering thereof
which gives a Hogoo to that Weed, rather than any Natural Relish it possesses,
when green. Although they are great Smokers, yet they never are seen
to take it in Snuff, or chew it.
They have no Hairs on their Faces (except some few) and those but little,
nor is there often found any Hair under their Arm-Pits.
They are continually plucking it away from their Faces, by the Roots.
As for their Privities, since they wore Tail-Clouts,
to cover their Nakedness, several of the Men have a deal of Hair thereon.
It is to be observ'd, that the Head of the Penis is cover'd
(throughout all the Nations of the Indians I ever saw)
both in Old and Young. Although we reckon these a very smooth People,
and free from Hair; yet I once saw a middle-aged Man, that was hairy
all down his Back; the Hairs being above an Inch long.
{Few Cripples.}
As there are found very few, or scarce any, Deformed, or Cripples,
amongst them, so neither did I ever see but one blind Man;
and then they would give me no Account how his Blindness came.
They had a Use for him, which was, to lead him with a Girl, Woman, or Boy,
by a String; so they put what Burdens they pleased upon his Back,
and made him very serviceable upon all such Occasions. {Indians good Eyes.}
No People have better Eyes, or see better in the Night or Day,
than the Indians. Some alledge, that the Smoke of the Pitch-Pine,
which they chiefly burn, does both preserve and strengthen the Eyes;
as, perhaps, it may do, because that Smoak never offends the Eyes,
though you hold your Face over a great Fire thereof. This is occasion'd
by the volatile Part of the Turpentine, which rises with the Smoke,
and is of a friendly, balsamick Nature; for the Ashes of the Pine-Tree
afford no fix'd Salt in them.
{Not pair their Nails.}
They let their Nails grow very long, which, they reckon,
is the Use Nails are design'd for, and laugh at the Europeans
for pairing theirs, which, they say, disarms them of that which Nature
design'd them for.
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