The Small-Pox
I Have Acquainted You Withal Above, And So I Have Of Rum, And Shall Only Add,
That They Have Got A Way To Carry It Back To The Westward Indians,
Who Never Knew What It Was, Till Within Very Few Years.
Now they have it
brought them by the Tuskeruro's, and other Neighbour-Indians,
but the Tuskeruro's chiefly, who carry it in Rundlets several hundred Miles,
amongst other Indians.
Sometimes they cannot forbear breaking their Cargo,
but sit down in the Woods, and drink it all up, and then hollow and shout
like so many Bedlamites. I accidentally once met with one of these
drunken Crews, and was amaz'd to see a Parcel of drunken Savages
so far from any Englishman's House; but the Indians I had in Company
inform'd me, that they were Merchants, and had drunk all their Stock,
as is very common for them to do. But when they happen to carry it safe,
(which is seldom, without drinking some part of it, and filling it up
with Water) and come to an Indian Town, those that buy Rum of them
have so many Mouthfuls for a Buck-Skin, they never using any other Measure;
and for this purpose, the Buyer always makes Choice of his Man,
which is one that has the greatest Mouth, whom he brings to the Market
with a Bowl to put it in. The Seller looks narrowly to the Man's Mouth
that measures it, and if he happens to swallow any down,
either through Wilfulness or otherwise, the Merchant or some of his Party,
does not scruple to knock the Fellow down, exclaiming against him
for false Measure.
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