Some That Attended The King, Presented Me With An Odoriferous, Balsamick Root,
Of A Fragrant Smell And Taste, The Name
I know not; they chew it in the Mouth,
and by that simple Application, heal desperate Wounds both green and
Old;
that small Quantity I had, was given inwardly to those troubl'd
with the Belly-ach, which Remedy fail'd not to give present Help,
the Pain leaving the Patient soon after they had taken the Root.
Near to these Cabins are several Tombs made after the manner
of these Indians; the largest and the chiefest of them
was the Sepulchre of the late Indian King of the Santees,
a Man of great Power, not only amongst his own Subjects,
but dreaded by the neighbouring Nations for his great Valour and Conduct,
having as large a Prerogative in his Way of Ruling, as the present King
I now spoke of.
The manner of their Interment, is thus: A Mole or Pyramid of Earth
is rais'd, the Mould thereof being work'd very smooth and even,
sometimes higher or lower, according to the Dignity of the Person
whose Monument it is. On the Top thereof is an Umbrella, made Ridge-ways,
like the Roof of an House; this is supported by nine Stakes, or small Posts,
the Grave being about six or eight Foot in Length, and four Foot in Breadth;
about it is hung Gourds, Feathers, and other such like Trophies,
plac'd there by the dead Man's Relations, in Respect to him in the Grave.
The other Part of the Funeral-Rites are thus, As soon as the Party is dead,
they lay the Corps upon a Piece of Bark in the Sun, seasoning or embalming it
with a small Root beaten to Powder, which looks as red as Vermilion;
the same is mix'd with Bear's Oil, to beautify the Hair,
and preserve their Heads from being lousy, it growing plentifully
in these Parts of America.
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