At The Time This Was Done,
Those Indians Had Nothing But Bows And Arrows, Neither Side Having Guns.
The Indians are very revengeful, and never forget an Injury done,
till they have receiv'd Satisfaction.
Yet they are the freest People
from Heats and Passions (which possess the Europeans) of any
I ever heard of. {Drunkenness in Indians.} They never call any Man
to account for what he did, when he was drunk; but say, it was the Drink
that caused his Misbehaviour, therefore he ought to be forgiven:
They never frequent a Christian's House that is given to Passion,
nor will they ever buy or sell with him, if they can get
the same Commodities of any other Person; for they say,
such Men are mad Wolves, and no more Men.
{Indians not Jealous.}
They know not what Jealousy is, because they never think
their Wives are unconstant, unless they are Eye-witnesses thereof.
They are generally very bashful, especially the young Maids,
who when they come into a strange Cabin, where they are not acquainted,
never ask for any thing, though never so hungry or thirsty,
but sit down, without speaking a Word (be it never so long)
till some of the House asks them a Question, or falls into Discourse,
with the Stranger. I never saw a Scold amongst them, and to their Children
they are extraordinary tender and indulgent; neither did I ever see
a Parent correct a Child, excepting one Woman, that was the King's Wife,
and she (indeed) did possess a Temper that is not commonly found amongst them.
{Indians Complements.} They are free from all manner of Compliments,
except Shaking of Hands, and Scratching on the Shoulder,
which two are the greatest Marks of Sincerity and Friendship,
that can be shew'd one to another. They cannot express fare you well;
but when they leave the House, will say, I go straightway,
which is to intimate their Departure; and if the Man of the House
has any Message to send by the going Man, he may acquaint him therewith.
Their Tongue allows not to say, Sir, I am your Servant;
because they have no different Titles for Man, only King, War-Captain,
Old Man, or Young Man, which respect the Stations and Circumstances
Men are employ'd in, and arriv'd to, and not Ceremony. As for Servant,
they have no such thing, except Slave, and their Dogs, Cats,
tame or domestick Beasts, and Birds, are call'd by the same Name:
For the Indian Word for Slave includes them all. So when an Indian
tells you he has got a Slave for you, it may (in general Terms, as they use)
be a young Eagle, a Dog, Otter, or any other thing of that Nature,
which is obsequiously to depend on the Master for its Sustenance.
{Indians not afraid of Spirits.}
They are never fearful in the Night, nor do the Thoughts of Spirits
ever trouble them; such as the many Hobgoblins and Bugbears that we suck in
with our Milk, and the Foolery of our Nurses and Servants suggest to us;
who by their idle Tales of Fairies, and Witches, make such Impressions
on our tender Years, that at Maturity, we carry Pigmies Souls,
in Giants Bodies, and ever after are thereby so much depriv'd of Reason,
and unman'd, as never to be Masters of half the Bravery
Nature design'd for us.
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