%ijO ' Travels through the 



ing of cattle. The men in general are of low ftature, and have 

 fhort woolly hair. Thefe people were of a darker complexion 

 than the other tribes he had quitted. They confifted of fix or 

 (even thoufand, of both foxes, capable of bearing arms. The 

 women were of larger fize than the men, and exceedingly 

 bold and courageous. The greater part of them had been 

 carried away by force from other nations, or had been taken 

 prisoners in war and retained bv the men. Thefe people 

 never rear their female children, but deftroy them as foon as 

 they are born. There are no prieiis among them, though 

 there is reafon to think that they are not deftitute of religion. 

 The oldeft inhabitant in each village acts generally in the 

 capacity of chief and judge. Polygamy is allowed among 

 this tribe ; and every woman not pregnant by her huiband 

 is at liberty to cohabit with any other man whom fhe choofes, 

 and if fhe bring forth a boy to him, (he may become his 

 wife. 



Thefe people are exceedingly fuperftilious, and, when the 

 Jeaft misfortune befalls them, (hut themfelves up in their 

 huts, where they remain totally inactive for three or four 

 davs. When anv one of their ration has been wounded or 

 killed by wild bea^s while hunting, they fay " he offended 

 the great god ;" but if fuch an event take place in the night- 

 time, and particularly by moon-light, they fay, " he offended 

 the little god," and on that account was puniflied. If a woman 

 die in childbed, which, however, is feldom the cafe, foe is 

 buried in a particular fpot, arid her family mutt remain fix 

 moons, at fome diftance from the village, in huts fet apart 

 for that purpofe, without having any intercourfe with the 

 reft of the tribe. If a woman bring forth a male child 

 during cloudy weather, or when the moon does not thine, it 

 is concluded that his father has offended the gods, and that 

 the bov is not worthy of being a respectable member of fo- 

 cietv. When he grows up, therefore, he is employed in the 

 moil menial offices, fuch as cutting wood, guarding the cat- 

 tle, and other fet vices of the like kind. Neither cireumcifion., 

 nor anv fimilar practice, is known in this country. 



If a woman be delivered of a boy at a fortunate period, tho 

 father kills a gqat, and gives an, entertainment to the friends 



of 



