It Is The Dead Man's Relations, By Blood,
As His Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, Sons, And Daughters,
That Mourn In
Good earnest, the Wives thinking their Duty is discharg'd,
and that they are become free, when their Husband is dead;
So, as fast as they can, look out for another, to supply his Place.
{Indian Women handsome.}
As for the Indian Women, which now happen in my Way; when young,
and at Maturity, they are as fine-shap'd Creatures (take them generally)
as any in the Universe. They are of a tawny Complexion;
their Eyes very brisk and amorous; their Smiles afford the finest Composure
a Face can possess; their Hands are of the finest Make,
with small long Fingers, and as soft as their Cheeks; and their whole Bodies
of a smooth Nature. They are not so uncouth or unlikely, as we suppose them;
nor are they Strangers or not Proficients in the soft Passion.
They are most of them mercenary, except the married Women, who sometimes
bestow their Favours also to some or other, in their Husbands Absence.
For which they never ask any Reward. {Married Women unconstant.}
As for the Report, that they are never found unconstant, like the Europeans,
it is wholly false; for were the old World and the new one put into
a Pair of Scales (in point of Constancy) it would be a hard Matter to discern
which was the heavier. {Trading Girls.} As for the Trading Girls,
which are those design'd to get Money by their Natural Parts,
these are discernable, by the Cut of their Hair; their Tonsure differing
from all others, of that Nation, who are not of their Profession;
which Method is intended to prevent Mistakes; for the Savages of America
are desirous (if possible) to keep their Wives to themselves,
as well as those in other Parts of the World. When any Addresses are made
to one of these Girls, she immediately acquaints her Parents therewith,
and they tell the King of it, (provided he that courts her be a Stranger)
his Majesty commonly being the principal Bawd of the Nation he rules over,
and there seldom being any of these Winchester-Weddings agreed on,
without his Royal Consent. He likewise advises her what Bargain to make,
and if it happens to be an Indian Trader that wants a Bed-fellow,
and has got Rum to sell, be sure, the King must have a large Dram for a Fee,
to confirm the Match. These Indians, that are of the elder sort,
when any such Question is put to them, will debate the Matter
amongst themselves with all the Sobriety and Seriousness imaginable,
every one of the Girl's Relations arguing the Advantage or Detriment
that may ensue such a Night's Encounter; all which is done
with as much Steadiness and Reality, as if it was the greatest Concern
in the World, and not so much as one Person shall be seen to smile,
so long as the Debate holds, making no Difference betwixt
an Agreement of this Nature, and a Bargain of any other.
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