(...i-rliet.] 47Lj [Feb. l' i, 



Women were seen to climb the highest trees with agility, and to swim 

 over broad rivers with children on their backs. When they became preg- 

 nant, they (and the Creek women) kept away from their husbands, and 

 during* their periods were careful to eat certain kinds of nutriment only ; 

 they drank blood to render their sucking children stronger and healthier. 

 Chiefs had one legitimate wife, whose children alone could inherit them, 

 and one or two concubines. The first-born males in the tribe were sacri- 

 ficed to the chief, under solemn ceremonies. 



Most Indians were found to be diseased by the "pox," for they were 

 exceedingly fond of the other sex, calling their female friends "daughters 

 of the sun." Pederasty was not unfrequent, and the French noticed quite 

 a number of "hermaphrodites," who were very strong in body, and used as 

 load-carriers, especially on war expeditions. The Indians showed a feel- 

 ing of repugnance towards them. 



The Timucua declared war by sticking a number of arrows into the 

 ground, fliers up, in close vicinity to the enemy's camp. This was done 

 with the utmost secrecy the night before the attack, and locks of human 

 hair were seen dangling from the end of the arrows. The chiefs led the 

 warriors on the war-path, club, arrows and bow in hand ; when the fight 

 had begun, they placed themselves in the centre of the combatants, and 

 their usual mode of attack was to surprise the enemy, as is clone by all In- 

 dians. They fought valiantly and impetuously, when compelled to fight 

 openly ; their weapons were spears, clubs, bow and arrows, and a small 

 target hung on the chest. Their arrows w r ere headed with stones and fish- 

 bones, both being worked quite handsomely and carefully. The warriors 

 put to death all men captured (though exceptions to this are recorded), cut 

 off their arms above the elbow, and their legs above the knee, took their 

 scalps, and ran an arrow into their anus, leaving them in this condition on 

 the battle-field. The scalps and sometimes the cut-off limbs were brought 

 to camp, stuck on poles which they connected with garlands, and during 

 the scalp dance, which lasted three daj'S and nights, the most revolt- 

 ing orgies were gone through. The oldest of their women were com- 

 pelled to join hands in the maddening dance ; the scalps of the slain were 

 smoked over a, fire, while praises were sung to the sun for the victory 

 obtained. Women and children of the enemy were kept as slaves. War- 

 riors ornamented their heads with all kinds of feathers, leaves and plants, 

 like the Aztecs and Mayas, or drew the head or skin of some wild animal 

 over their foreheads, to protect the head. 



When hunting game they hid themselves in deer skins, and thus shot 

 their game by decoy. The various superstitions of hunters are contained 

 in Pareja's queries. He also speaks of their barbacoas or provision houses, 

 and Le Moyne's picture shows that these were low palisade huts, roofed 

 over, and having only one issue. In the maize gathering season, the whole 

 crop was carried to these hum*, and subsequently it was portioned out to 

 every man according to his quality. The watchmen of these barns, when 

 found to be neglectful of their duties, were executed by a heavy blow on 

 the head with a war club. 



