of North Carolina. 305 



that she proves with Child, or it is otherwise known) or any 

 other near Relations, his Body is immediately Burnt, and 

 the Ashes thereof thrown into the River, as unworthey to re- 

 main upon the Earth. Neither is Sodomy, that Beastly Ac- 

 tion known amongst them, nor have they a Xame for that 

 abominable Sin in all their Languages. 



These Marriages amongst them are no longer binding than 

 the Man and Woman agree together, for either have liberty 

 to leave each other upon any frivolous excuse. Both Men 

 and Women commonly marry four or five times before they 

 can settle to their Content; for when they thus marry, they 

 do not intend to bind themselves for as long time as they 

 shall live, but for as long only as they shall agree together 

 and love each other: If they gTow w^eary or discontented 

 with each other, they may separate, which is equally allowed 

 to both Parties. Thus they part without any clamour or 

 noise, and perfectly indifferent to each other afterwards, and 

 take no more jSTotice when they meet, than if they had never 

 seen one another, and wonder that the Europeans do not fol- 

 low the same course: But whoever takes the Woman that 

 was another Man's before, and bought by him (as they all 

 are) must certainly pay to her former Husband Avhatsoever 

 he gave for her: But if he sends her away without any 

 Cause, she keeps the Presents given her before Marriage : 

 If she be a Widow^, and her Husband died in Debt, whoever 

 takes her to be his Wife, pays all her late Husband's Obliga- 

 tions, be they never so many ; for the Woman is not required 

 or obliged to pay any thing (unless she is willing so to do) 

 that was owing from her Husband, so long as she lives single. 

 But if a Man courts her for a ISTights Lodging, and obtains 

 it, if the Creditors have knowledge of it, they will make him 



20 Qq pay 



