{Sassafras.}
The Bark Of The Root Of The Sassafras-Tree, I Have Observ'd,
Is Much Used By Them.
They generally torrefy it in the Embers,
so strip off the Bark from the Root, beating it to a
Consistence
fit to spread, so lay it on the griev'd Part; which both cleanses
a fowl Ulcer; and after Scarrification, being apply'd to a Contusion,
or Swelling, draws forth the Pain, and reduces the Part to its pristine
State of Health, as I have often seen effected. Fats and Unguents
never appear in their Chirurgery, when the Skin is once broke.
The Fats of Animals are used by them, to render their Limbs pliable,
and when wearied, to relieve the Joints, and this not often,
because they approve of the Sweating-House (in such cases) above all things.
{Make Bread, how. Alkali Salts.} The Salts they mix
with their Bread and Soupe, to give them a Relish, are Alkalis,
(viz.) Ashes, and calcined Bones of Deer, and other Animals.
{No Sallads, Pepper, or Mustard.} Sallads, they never eat any;
as for Pepper and Mustard, they reckon us little better than Madmen,
to make use of it amongst our Victuals. They are never troubled
with the Scurvy, Dropsy, nor Stone. The Phthisick, Asthma, and Diabetes,
they are wholly Strangers to; neither do I remember I ever saw
one Paralytick amongst them. The Gout, I cannot be certain
whether they know what it is, or not. Indeed, I never saw
any Nodes or Swellings, which attend the Gout in Europe;
{Rhumatick Pains.} yet they have a sort of Rhumatism or Burning of the Limbs,
which tortures them grievously, at which time their Legs are so hot,
that they employ the young People continually to pour Water down them.
I never saw but one or two thus afflicted. The Struma is not uncommon
amongst these Savages, and another Distemper, which is, in some respects,
like the Pox, but is attended with no Gonorrhoea. This not seldom
bereaves them of their Nose. I have seen three or four of them
render'd most miserable Spectacles by this Distemper.
Yet, when they have been so negligent, as to let it run on so far
without curbing of it; at last, they make shift to patch themselves up,
and live for many years after; and such Men commonly turn Doctors.
I have known two or three of these no-nose Doctors in great Esteem
amongst these Savages. The Juice of the Tulip-Tree is used
as a proper Remedy for this Distemper. What Knowledge they have in Anatomy,
I cannot tell, neither did I ever see them employ themselves therein,
unless, as I told you before, when they make the Skeletons
of their Kings and great Mens Bones.
The Indians are very careless and negligent of their Health;
as, by Drunkenness, Wading in the Water, irregular Diet and Lodging,
and a thousand other Disorders, (that would kill an European)
which they daily use. They boil and roast their Meat extraordinary much,
and eat abundance of Broth, {Naked Indians.} except the Savages
whom we call the naked Indians, who never eat any Soupe.
They travel from the Banks of the Messiasippi, to war against
the Sinnagars or Iroquois, and are (if equal Numbers)
commonly too hard for them. They will lie and sleep in the Woods
without Fire, being inur'd thereto. They are the hardiest of all Indians,
and run so fast, that they are never taken, neither do any Indians
outrun them, if they are pursu'd. Their Savage Enemies say,
their Nimbleness and Wind proceeds from their never eating any Broth.
{Small-Pox.} The Small-Pox has been fatal to them; they do not often escape,
when they are seiz'd with that Distemper, which is a contrary Fever
to what they ever knew. Most certain, it had never visited America,
before the Discovery thereof by the Christians. Their running into the Water,
in the Extremity of this Disease, strikes it in, and kills all that use it.
Now they are become a little wiser; but formerly it destroy'd whole Towns,
without leaving one Indian alive in the Village. The Plague was never known
amongst them, that I could learn by what Enquiry I have made:
These Savages use Scarrification almost in all Distempers.
Their chief Instruments for that Operation is the Teeth of Rattle-Snakes,
which they poison withal. They take them out of the Snake's Head,
and suck out the Poison with their Mouths, (and so keep them for use)
and spit out the Venom, which is green, and are never damag'd thereby.
The Small-Pox and Rum have made such a Destruction amongst them,
that, on good grounds, I do believe, there is not the sixth Savage living
within two hundred Miles of all our Settlements, as there were
fifty Years ago. These poor Creatures have so many Enemies to destroy them,
that it's a wonder one of them is left alive near us. 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.
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