280 The Natural History 



many other Colours, such as Black, Green, Blue, and White, 

 by which they represent all the Affairs in Life, such as War, 

 Peace, Feasts, Death, and the like. 



They generally let the Hair on their Heads grow very 

 long, which is lank, thick, and the strongest of any People 

 I have ever met with, and as black as Jet. They always 

 travel bare-headed, having neither Hats, or any artificial 

 Covering for those Parts, except it be their civilized Kings 

 and War Captains, who of late wear Hats, especially when 

 they visit the Christians. Those who have represented the 

 Savages as rough as Beasts, have never had the Opportunity 

 of seeing them, for they have naturally but little or no 

 Beards, or Hairs on their Faces, and very seldonie under 

 their Arm-pits, which 'tis said they continually pluck out by 

 the Root as it begins to grow. !N^either have they any upon 

 their Privities, except some few that wear Brieeches or Tail- 

 clouts, however, though these People are generally smooth 

 and free from Hair, yet I have known some that were old, 

 hairy down their Backs, and those Hairs very long : It is to 

 be observed, that the Head of the Penis is covered through- 

 out the whole E'ations of the Indians that I ever saw; I am 

 credibly informed, that this is common with all, both old 

 and younng in America. They have extraordinary good 

 Teeth, but generally of a yellowish Colour, occasioned by 

 their smoaking Tobacco, which they are very much addicted 

 to ; this Plant they report to have had, many ages before the 

 arrival of the Christians amongst them. 



They never cut or pair their I^ails, but let them grow 

 very long, saying, that that is the use they were made for, 

 and laugh at the Europeans for pairing theirs, long [N'ails 

 being always esteemed amongst them as a Beauty, Avhich the 

 Dancers at their Feasts generally have, who rather represent 



the 



