"Here Shelters Himself
A Being, Born With All Those Powers Which Education Expands, And All Those
Sensations Which Culture Refines." With A Lighted Stick Brought From
The Canoe They Now Kindle A Small Fire At The Mouth Of The Hut And Prepare
To Dress Their Meal.
They begin by throwing the fish exactly in the state
in which it came from the water, on the fire.
When it has become
a little warmed they take it off, rub away the scales, and then peal off
with their teeth the surface, which they find done and eat. Now,
and not before, they gut it; but if the fish be a mullet or any other
which has a fatty substance about the intestines, they carefully guard
that part and esteem it a delicacy. The cooking is now completed
by the remaining part being laid on the fire until it be sufficiently done.
A bird, a lizard, a rat, or any other animal, they treat in the same manner.
The feathers of the one and the fur of the other, they thus get rid of.*
[*They broil indiscriminately all substances which they eat. Though they boil
water in small quantities in oyster shells for particular purposes,
they never conceived it possible until shown by us, to dress meat
by this method, having no vessel capable of containing a fish or a bird
which would stand fire. Two of them once stole twelve pounds of rice
and carried it off. They knew how we cooked it, and by way of putting it
in practice they spread the rice on the ground before a fire,
and as it grew hot continued to throw water on it. Their ingenuity was
however very ill rewarded, for the rice became so mingled with the dirt
and sand on which it was laid, that even they could not eat it,
and the whole was spoiled.]
Unless summoned away by irresistable necessity, sleep always follows the
repast. They would gladly prolong it until the following day; but the
canoe wants repair, the fish-gig must be barbed afresh, new lines must be
twisted, and new hooks chopped out. They depart to their respective
tasks, which end only with the light.
Such is the general life of an Indian. But even he has his hours of
relaxation, in seasons of success, when fish abounds. Wanton with plenty,
he now meditates an attack upon the chastity of some neighbouring fair
one; and watching his opportunity he seizes her and drags her away
to complete his purpose. The signal of war is lighted; her lover,
her father, her brothers, her tribe, assemble, and vow revenge on the
spoiler. He tells his story to his tribe. They judge the case to be
a common one and agree to support him. Battle ensues; they discharge
their spears at each other, and legs and arms are transpierced.
When the spears are expended the combatants close and every species
of violence is practiced. They seize their antagonist and snap like
enraged dogs, they wield the sword and club, the bone shatters beneath
their fall and they drop the prey of unsparing vengeance.
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