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to the ground, and the whole covered with moss and clay 

 mixed together. In this covering two apertures are left, one 

 to serve as a common door, a chimney and a window, and 

 another to serve as a door for the women. To each door a 

 sort of ladder is annexed ; that belonging to the common 

 door being placed close to the fire, when there is any, be- 

 comes so hot as to be scarce tolerable, to say nothmg of the 

 cloud of smoke through which one must ascend or descend. 

 Their summer habitations are built on the surface of the 

 earth, and somewhat less inconvenient. Each community 

 claims a property in the banks of the river opposite to then- 

 habitation. 



IVomen are here highly respected, even after they become 

 wives. Hence polygamy, though permitted, is rarely prac- 

 tised Their courtships and marriages are accompanied with 

 some festivities and ridiculous ceremonies. Divorces are 

 common. Children are never checked or reprimanded. 



Their disposition is cruel ; they endeavour to surprise their 

 enemies ; the most valiant of their prisoners they put to 

 death with the most exquisite torments. Others they reduce 

 to slavery. 



The 



