LOUISIANA. 105 



Though th^ Indians are fometimes three or 

 ibur days without eating, they are not ill at all 

 irom it, but continue their road as before : they 

 xontra<5t their girdle round their belly, in pro- 

 portion as it grows more empty, and diminifhes 

 in fize •, in a word, they are indefatigable. 



When the Indians have made a flroke at the 

 jenemy, as they term it, forae young, warriors 

 immediately fet out, to bring the news of the 

 ,v^ory to the village. They make their arrival 

 known, by fome cries, which mark the number 

 of prifoaer5, that of the dead, and that of the 

 fcalps which they bring with them.. The wo- 

 men prepare to receive the prifo.iers, and to 

 give them a hearty drubbing with flicks. They 

 have likewife a right to decide who of the cap- 

 tives Ihall die, for they are brought before them 

 with their hands tied, and painted black *. 

 Tiiofe women who have loll their hufbands, or 

 fons, are at liberty to take captives to replace 

 them. They can adopt them as hufbands or as 

 ions, and they are then immediately fet free. 



' ^ Thofe who are not adopted mufl be burnt at 

 a flow fire : to that purpofe their head is fcalp- 

 ed, 



* Thofe who are thus painted are to be turnt in th;; midft 

 of the village; unlefs the women adopt them. 



