The 4th Of July
We Launched Our Pinnace, And Had Forty Of The People To Help Us,
Which They Did Very Willingly.
At this time our men again wrestled
with them, and found them as before, strong and skilful.
This 4th
of July, the master of the Mermaid went to certain islands to store
himself with wood, where he found a grave with divers buried in it,
only covered with seal skins, having a cross laid over them. The
people are of good stature, well in body proportioned, with small,
slender hands and feet, with broad visages, and small eyes, wide
mouths, the most part unbearded, great lips, and close toothed.
Their custom is, as often as they go from us, still at their return,
to make a new truce, in this sort: holding his hand up to the sun,
with a loud voice crieth "Ylyaoute," and striketh his breast, with
like signs being promised safety, he giveth credit. These people
are much given to bleed, and therefore stop their noses with deer
hair or the hair of an elan. They are idolaters, and have images
great store, which they wear about them, and in their boats, which
we suppose they worship. They are witches, and have many kinds of
enchantments, which they often used, but to small purpose, thanks be
to God.
Being among them at shore, the 4th of July, one of them, making a
long oration, began to kindle a fire, in this manner: he took a
piece of a board, wherein was a hole half through; unto that hole he
puts the end of a round stick, like unto a bed staff, wetting the
end thereof in train, and in fashion of a turner, with a piece of
leather, by his violent motion doth very speedily produce fire;
which done, with turfs he made a fire, into which, with many words
and strange gestures, he put divers things which we suppose to be a
sacrifice.
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