This Edifice Resembles
A Large Hay-Rick; Its Top Being Pyramidal, And Much Bigger
Than Their Other Dwellings, And At
The Building whereof, every one assists
till it is finish'd. All their Dwelling-Houses are cover'd with Bark,
but this
Differs very much; for, it is very artificially
thatch'd with Sedge and Rushes: As soon as finish'd, they place
some one of their chiefest Men to dwell therein, charging him
with the diligent Preservation thereof, as a Prince commits
the Charge and Government of a Fort or Castle, to some Subject
he thinks worthy of that Trust. In these State-Houses is transacted
all Publick and Private Business, relating to the Affairs of the Government,
as the Audience of Foreign Ambassadors from other Indian Rulers,
Consultation of waging and making War, Proposals of their Trade
with neighbouring Indians, or the English, who happen to come
amongst them. In this Theater, the most Aged and Wisest meet,
determining what to Act, and what may be most convenient to Omit,
Old Age being held in as great Veneration amongst these Heathens,
as amongst any People you shall meet withal in any Part of the World.
Whensoever an Aged Man is speaking, none ever interrupts him,
(the contrary Practice the English, and other Europeans, too much use)
the Company yielding a great deal of Attention to his Tale,
with a continued Silence, and an exact Demeanour, during the Oration.
Indeed, the Indians are a People that never interrupt one another
in their Discourse; no Man so much as offering to open his Mouth,
till the Speaker has utter'd his Intent:
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