They Name The Months Very Agreeably,
As One Is The Herring-Month, Another The Strawberry-Month,
Another The Mulberry-Month.
Others name them by the Trees that blossom;
especially, the Dogwood-Tree; or they say, we will return
when Turkey-Cocks gobble, that is in March and April.
The Age of the Moon
they understand, but know no different Name for Sun and Moon.
They can guess well at the time of the Day, by the Sun's Height.
Their Age they number by Winters, and say, such a Man or Woman
is so many Winters old. They have no Sabbath, or Day of Rest.
Their Slaves are not over-burden'd with Work, and so not driven by Severity
to seek for that Relief. Those that are acquainted with the English,
and speak the Tongue, know when Sunday comes; besides, the Indians have
a distinct Name for Christmas which they call Winnick Keshuse,
or the Englishmans Gods Moon. There is one most abominable Custom
amongst them, which they call Husquenawing their young Men;
which I have not made any Mention of as yet, so will give you
an Account of it here. You must know, that most commonly, once a Year,
or, at farthest, once in two Years, these People take up
so many of their young Men, as they think are able to undergo it,
and husquenaugh them, which is to make them obedient and respective
to their Superiors, and (as they say) is the same to them,
as it is to us to send our Children to School, to be taught
good Breeding and Letters.
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