The King Himself Is Commonly Chief Doctor
In That Cure.
They are so well versed in Poison, that they are often found to poison
whole Families; nay, most of
A Town; and which is most to be admired,
they will poison a running Spring, or Fountain of Water,
so that whosoever drinks thereof, shall infallible die.
When the Offender is discover'd, his very Relations urge for Death,
whom nothing will appease, but the most cruel Torment imaginable,
which is executed in the most publick Manner that it's possible
to act such a Tragedy in. For all the whole Nation, and all the Indians
within a hundred Mile (if it is possible to send for them) are summon'd
to come and appear at such a Place and Time, to see and rejoyce at
the Torments and Death of such a Person, who is the common and profess'd Enemy
to all the friendly Indians thereabouts, who now lies under
the Condemnation of the whole Nation, and accordingly is to be put to Death.
Then all appear (young and old) from all the adjacent Parts,
and meet, with all the Expressions of Joy, to consummate
this horrid and barbarous Feast, which is carried on after this dismal Manner.
{Poisoning Indians how punished.} First, they bring the Prisoner
to the Place appointed for the Execution, where he is set down on his Breech
on the Ground. Then they all get about him, and you shall not see
one sorrowful or dejected Countenance amongst them, but all
very merrily dispos'd, as if some Comedy was to be acted,
instead of a Tragedy. He that is appointed to be the chief Executioner,
takes a Knife, and bids him hold out his Hands, which he does,
and then cuts round the Wrist through the Skin, which is drawn off
like a Glove, and flead quite off at the Fingers Ends; then they break
his Joints and Bones, and buffet and torment him after a very inhumane Manner,
till some violent Blow perhaps ends his Days; then they burn him to Ashes,
and throw them down the River. Afterwards they eat, drink and are merry,
repeating all the Actions of the Tormentors and the Prisoner,
with a great deal of Mirth and Satisfaction. This Accusation is laid
against an Indian Heroe sometimes wrongfully, or when they have a mind
to get rid of a Man that has more Courage and Conduct than his neighbouring
Kings or great Men; then they alledge the Practice of poisoning Indians
against him, and make a Rehearsal of every Indian that died
for a year or two, and say, that they were poison'd by such an Indian;
which Reports stir up all the Relations of the deceased
against the said Person, and by such means make him away presently.
In some Affairs, these Savages are very reserv'd and politick,
and will attend a long time with a great deal of Patience,
to bring about their Designs; they being never impatient or hasty
in executing any of their Designs of Revenge.
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