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. This House of Correction is a large strong Cabin,
made on purpose for the Reception of the young Men and Boys,
that have not passed this Graduation already; and it is always at Christmas
that they husquenaugh their Youth, which is by bringing them
into this House, and keeping them dark all the time, where they
more than half-starve them. Besides, they give them Pellitory-Bark,
and several intoxicating Plants, that make them go raving mad
as ever were any People in the World; and you may hear them make
the most dismal and hellish Cries, and Howlings, that ever
humane Creatures express'd; all which continues about five or six Weeks,
and the little Meat they eat, is the nastiest, loathsome stuff,
and mixt with all manner of Filth it's possible to get.
After the Time is expired, they are brought out of the Cabin,
which never is in the Town, but always a distance off, and guarded by
a Jaylor or two, who watch by Turns. Now, when they first come out,
they are as poor as ever any Creatures were; for you must know several die
under this diabolical Purgation. Moreover, they either really are,
or pretend to be dumb, and do not speak for several Days;
I think, twenty or thirty; and look so gastly, and are so chang'd,
that it's next to an Impossibility to know them again,
although you was never so well acquainted with them before.
I would fain have gone into the mad House, and have seen them
in their time of Purgatory, but the King would not suffer it,
because, he told me, they would do me, or any other white Man, an Injury,
that ventured in amongst them; so I desisted. They play this Prank
with Girls as well as Boys, and I believe it a miserable Life they endure,
because I have known several of them run away, at that time, to avoid it.
Now, the Savages say, if it was not for this, they could never keep
their Youth in Subjection, besides that it hardens them ever after
to the Fatigues of War, Hunting, and all manner of Hardship,
which their way of living exposes them to. Besides, they add,
that it carries off those infirm weak Bodies, that would have been only
a Burden and Disgrace to their Nation, and saves the Victuals and Cloathing
for better People, that would have been expended on such useless Creatures.
These Savages are described in their proper Colours, but by a very few;
for those that generally write Histories of this new World,
are such as Interest, Preferment, and Merchandize, drew thither,
and know no more of that People than I do of the Laplanders,
which is only by Hear-say. And if we will make just Remarks,
how near such Relations generally approach Truth and Nicety,
we shall find very few of them worthy of Entertainment; and as for
the other part of the Volume, it is generally stufft with Invectives
against the Government they lived under, on which Stage is commonly acted
greater Barbarities, in Murdering worthy Mens Reputations,
than all the Savages in the new World are capable of equalizing,
or so much as imitating.
And since I hinted at a Regulation of the Savages, and to propose a way
to convert them to Christianity, I will first particularize
the several Nations of Indians that are our Neighbours,
and then proceed to what I promis'd.
Tuskeruro Indians are fifteen Towns, viz. Haruta, Waqui, Contah-nah,
Anna Ooka, Conauh-Kare Harooka, Una Nauhan, Kentanuska, Chunaneets,
Kenta, Eno, Naur-hegh-ne, Oonossoora, Tosneoc, Nonawharitse, Nursoorooka;
Fighting Men 1200. Waccon, Towns 2, Yupwauremau, Tooptatmeer,
Fighting Men 120. Machapunga, Town 1, Maramiskeet, Fighting Men 30.
Bear River, Town 1, Raudauqua-quank, Fighting Men 50.
Maherring Indians, Town 1, Maherring River, Fighting Men 50.
Chuwon Indians, Town 1, Bennets Creek, Fighting Men 15.
Paspatank Indians, Town 1, Paspatank River, Fighting Men 10.
Poteskeit, Town 1, North River, Fighting Men 30. Nottaway Indians,
Town 1, Winoack Creek, Fighting Men 30. Hatteras Town 1, Sand Banks,
Fighting Men 16. Connamox Indians, Towns 2, Coranine, Raruta,
Fighting Men 25. Neus Indians, Towns 2, Chattooka, Rouconk,
Fighting Men 15. Pampticough Indians, Town 1, Island, Fighting Men 15.
Jaupim Indians, 6 People. These five Nations of the Totero's, Sapona's,
Keiauwee's, Aconechos, and Schoccories, are lately come amongst us,
and may contain, in all, about 750 Men, Women and Children. Total 4780.
Now, there appears to be one thousand six hundred and twelve
Fighting Men, of our Neighbouring Indians; and probably,
there are three Fifths of Women and Children, not including Old Men,
which amounts to four thousand and thirty Savages, besides the five Nations
lately come. Now, as I before hinted, we will see what grounds there are
to make these People serviceable to us, and better themselves thereby.
On a fair Scheme, we must first allow these Savages what really
belongs to them, that is, what good Qualities, and natural Endowments,
they possess, whereby they being in their proper Colours,
the Event may be better guess'd at, and fathom'd.
First, they are as apt to learn any Handicraft, as any People
that the World affords; I will except none; as is seen
by their Canoes and Stauking Heads, which they make of themselves;
but to my purpose, the Indian Slaves in South Carolina, and elsewhere,
make my Argument good.
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