152 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
v1, and if they found me alone, not knowing me 
‘~~ from an enemy, they would probably proceed to 
July. 
violence againft me when no perfon was near to 
affift. For this reafon I determined to accompa- 
ny them, telling them at the fame time, that I 
would not have any hand in the murder they were 
about to commit, unlefs I found it neceflary for . 
my own fafety. The Indians were not difpleafed 
at this propofal ; one of them immediately fixed 
me a fpear, and another lent me a broad bayonet 
for my protection, but at that time] could not be 
provided witha target; nor did] want to be en- 
cumbered with fuch an unneceffary piece of 
lumber. . 
While we lay in ambufh, the Indians perform- | 
ed the lait ceremonies which were thought necef- 
fary before the engagement. Thefe chiefly con- 
fifted in painting their faces; fome all black, 
fome all red, and others with a mixture of the . 
two; and to prevent their hair from blowing in- 
to their cyes, it was either tied before and 
behind, and on both fides, orelfe cut fhort all 
round. The next thing they confidered was to _ 
make themfelves as light as poffible for running ; 
which they did, by pulling off their ftockings, 
and either cutting off the fleeves of their jackets, 
or rolling them up clofe to their arm-pits; and 
though the mufkettoes at that time were fo nu- 
merous as to furpafs all credibility, yet fome of 
the Indians aCtually pulled off their jackets and 
entered 
