324 The Natural History 



could not possibly expect any success in engaging such an 

 imequal dumber. They at last concluded on this Strata- 

 gem, Avhich in my opinion carried a great deal of policy 

 along with it. It was, that the same ^N'ight they should 

 make a great Fire, which they were certain would be discov- 

 er'd by the adverse party, and there dress up Logs of Wood 

 in their Cloaths, and make them exactly seem like Indians 

 that were fast asleep by the Fire-side (which is their way 

 when they are Hunting or otherwise in the Woods) so said 

 they, our Enemies will fire upon these Images, supposing 

 them to be Men, while we lye in Ambuscade, and after their 

 Guns are unloaded we shall deal well enough with them. 



This result was immediately put in execution, and the 

 Tire was made by the side of a Yally where they lay perdue, 

 very advantageously all Xight. Thus a little before 

 break of Day they came down to the Fire, and at once fired 

 in upon these Logs in the Indian Cloaths and run up to them 

 expecting they had kilFd every Man dead upon the Spot, 

 but they soon found themselves to be mistaken, for then the 

 other Indians who had lain all the Night stark-naked, at- 

 tacked them with their loaded Pieces, which so surpriz'd 

 them, that every Man was taken Prisoner and brought in 

 bound to their Town, some of whom were sold to the English 

 for Slaves. 



There was another extraordinary Instance of this Nature 

 that happened betwixt the Machapunga Indians and the 

 Coranines, living on the Sand-banks near Machapunga Biver, 

 which carries a great deal of Treachery and Barbarity in it, 

 and is as follows. The Machapungas were invited to a feast 

 by the Coranines (which two Nations had been a long time 

 at War together, but had lately concluded a Peace) there- 

 upon the Machapunga Indians took the advantage of coming 



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