Now I Am Gone So Far In Giving An Account Of The Indians Temper,
I Will Proceed; And Can Give
You no other Character of them,
but that they are a very wary People, and are never hasty or impatient.
They will endure a great many Misfortunes, Losses, and Disapointments
without shewing themselves, in the least, vex'd or uneasy.
When they go by Water, if there proves a Head-Wind, they never vex and fret,
as the Europeans do, and let what Misfortune come to them,
as will or can happen, they never relent. Besides, there is one Vice
very common every where, which I never found amongst them,
which is Envying other Mens Happiness, because their Station is not equal to,
or above, their Neighbours. Of this Sin I cannot say I ever saw an Example,
though they are a People that set as great a Value upon themselves,
as any sort of Men in the World; upon which Account they find something
Valuable in themselves above Riches. Thus, he that is a good Warriour,
is the proudest Creature living; and he that is an expert Hunter, is esteem'd
by the People and himself; yet all these are natural Vertues and Gifts,
and not Riches, which are as often in the Possession of a Fool as a Wise-man.
Several of the Indians are possess'd of a great many Skins, Wampum,
Ammunition, and what other things are esteem'd Riches amongst them;
yet such an Indian is no more esteem'd amongst them, than any other
ordinary Fellow, provided he has no personal Endowments, which are
the Ornaments that must gain him an Esteem among them; for a great Dealer,
amongst the Indians, is no otherwise respected and esteemed,
than as a Man that strains his Wits, and fatigues himself, to furnish others
with Necessaries of Life, that live much easier and enjoy more of the World,
than he himself does, with all his Pelf. {Indians not afraid to die.}
If they are taken Captives, and expect a miserable Exit, they sing;
if Death approach them in Sickness, they are not afraid of it;
nor are ever heard to say, Grant me some time. They know by Instinct,
and daily Example, that they must die; wherefore, they have
that great and noble Gift, to submit to every thing that happens,
and value nothing that attacks them.
Their Cruelty to their Prisoners of War is what they are seemingly
guilty of an Error in, (I mean as to a natural Failing) because they strive
to invent the most inhumane Butcheries for them, that the Devils themselves
could invent, or hammer out of Hell; they esteeming Death no Punishment,
but rather an Advantage to him, that is exported out of this
into another World.
{Indians Cruelty to Prisoners of War.}
Therefore, they inflict on them Torments, wherein they prolong Life
in that miserable state as long as they can, and never miss Skulping of them,
as they call it, which is, to cut off the Skin from the Temples,
and taking the whole Head of Hair along with it, as if it was a Night-cap.
Sometimes, they take the Top of the Skull along with it; all which
they preserve, and carefully keep by them, for a Trophy of their Conquest
over their Enemies.
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