Yet their Love
is never of that Force and Continuance, that any of them ever runs Mad,
or makes away with themselves on that score. They never love
beyond Retrieving their first Indifferency, and when slighted,
are as ready to untie the Knot at one end, as you are at the other.
Yet I knew an European Man that had a Child or two by one of these
Indian Women, and afterwards married a Christian, after which
he came to pass away a Night with his Indian Mistress;
but she made Answer that she then had forgot she ever knew him,
and that she never lay with another Woman's Husband, so fell a crying,
and took up the Child she had by him, and went out of the Cabin
(away from him) in great Disorder.
{Indian Women what they do.}
The Indian Womens Work is to cook the Victuals for the whole Family,
and to make Mats, Baskets, Girdles of Possum-Hair, and such-like.
They never plant the Corn amongst us, as they do amongst the Iroquois,
{Iroquois great Warriours.} who are always at War and Hunting;
therefore, the Plantation Work is left for the Women and Slaves to perform,
and look after; whilst they are wandring all over the Continent
betwixt the two Bays of Mexico and St. Laurence.
{Mats how made.}
The Mats the Indian Women make, are of Rushes, and about five Foot high,
and two Fathom long, and sew'd double, that is, two together;
whereby they become very commodious to lay under our Beds,
or to sleep on in the Summer Season in the Day-time, and for our Slaves
in the Night.
There are other Mats made of Flags, which the Tuskeruro Indians make,
and sell to the Inhabitants.
{Baskets.}
The Baskets our Neighbouring Indians make, are all made of a very fine
sort of Bulrushes, and sometimes of Silk-grass, which they work
with Figures of Beasts, Birds, Fishes, &c.
A great way up in the Country, both Baskets and Mats are made
of the split Reeds, which are only the outward shining Part of the Cane.
Of these I have seen Mats, Baskets, and Dressing-Boxes,
very artificially done.
{Indian Wives.}
The Savage Women of America, have very easy Travail with their Children;
sometimes they bring Twins, and are brought to bed by themselves,
when took at a Disadvantage; not but that they have Midwives amongst them,
as well as Doctors, who make it their Profession (for Gain)
to assist and deliver Women, and some of these Midwives are very knowing
in several Medicines that Carolina affords, which certainly expedite,
and make easy Births.
