368 The Natural Historg 



therewith, whereupon they make Fires and cast some of the 

 Powder thereof into it for a Sacrifice, and being in a Storm 

 upon the AVaters, to pacifie the Bad Spirit, they cast some 

 up into the Air and the Water; likewise a Wear to take 

 Fish, being newly made, they cast some thereon, and into 

 the Air, as also for an escape from Danger. All this is per- 

 formed with strange Ceremonies and Gestures, one while 

 Stamping, Leaping, Dancing, clapping of Hands, and utter- 

 ing of strange Words. 



As for killing of Snakes, most Indians avoid it, and if 

 they even lye in their way, they will not molest them, but 

 pass by on the other side, because their Opinion is, that if 

 they should kill them, the Serpent's kindred w^ould destroy 

 some of their Brethren, Friends, or Relations, in return. 

 They have a thousand of these foolish Ceremonies and Cus- 

 toms amongst them, which they stedfastly believe, and are 

 strict observers of, but are too tedious to mention, and would 

 be of little or no advantage to the Readers. 



There are some few of them that use the Jewish Custom 

 of Circumcision, though this kind of Practice is but seldom 

 used amongst them; I never knew but two Families in all 

 the I^ations of Indians I have conversed with, that were so; 

 the Reason whereof I could never learn, notwithstanding I 

 was very intimate with them, and have often urged them to 

 give me an account on that Head, but could get no manner 

 of Answer, which with them is as much as to say, / ivill not 

 tell you. They have many other strange Customs amongst 

 them, that they will render no Reason for, or give any Ac- 

 count of to the Europeans. 



The Savages in these parts are never known to be guilty 

 of that abominable Sin called Sodomy, as many in the Phil- 

 ippian Islands are said to l^e. Mr. Candish in his Travels 



rcporteth. 



