382 The Natural Histoid 



Blankets or Match-coats on, whicli they think fit for their 

 turn, they strip them from their Backs, who suffer them so 

 to do without any manner of resistance; this being common 

 amongst several of their I^ations; these they wrap the dead 

 Bodies in, and cover them with two or three Mats, which the 

 Indians make of Rushes, and last of all they have a long 

 Web of woven Reeds or Hollow Canes, which is their Cojfin, 

 and is brought round the Corps several times and tyed at 

 both ends, which indeed looks very decent, and well amongst 

 these Savages. 



Then the Corps is brought out of the House into their 

 Orchard of Peach Trees, where another Hurdle is made to 

 receive it, about which come all the Relations and JSTation 

 that the dead Person belong'd to, besides several other IsTa- 

 tions in alliance with them, they all sit down upon Mats on 

 the Ground, spread for that purpose, every one seemingly 

 dejected for the loss of their deceas'd Friend and Country- 

 man, but more especially the Relations. 



Things being thus accomodated, their Priests or Conjur- 

 ers appear, and after having commanded their Attention, and 

 every one is silent, he pauses for some short time, then begins 

 to give an Account who the deceased Person was, how stout 

 a Man he approved himself, how many Enemies and Cap- 

 tives he had kill'd and taken, how strong, tall, and nimble 

 he was, that he was a great Hunter, a lover of his Country, 

 and possessed of a great many beautiful Wives and Children ; 

 which is esteemed the greatest of Blessings amongst them, in 

 which they have a very true E'otion. Thus this Orator runs 

 on highly extolling the dead Man for his Valour, Condact, 

 Strength, Riches, good Humour, and even enumerating his 

 Gnus, Slaves, and all he was possest of when liviug. After 



this 



