25S TRAVELS THROUGH 



When a man kills himfelf, either in defpair 

 or in a ficknefs, he is deprived of burial, and 

 thrown into the river, becaufe he is looked up- 

 on as a coward. 



I have already faid, that the Indians mufl fup- 

 port misfortunes with heroic conftancy. Their 

 enthufiafm prompts them to make fongs of death 

 when they are taken prifoners, and dellined to- 

 be burnt ; on fuch an occafion an Indian fays : 

 " I fear neither death nor fire, make me fuffer 

 " ever i^q much, becaufe my nation will revenge 

 ^' my death." This occafions his enemies either 

 to accelerate his fate, or fometimes adopt hin^ 

 faying he is a man of courage. 



When there is a difturber of public peace 

 amongll them, the old men fpeak to him thus : 

 " Thou art at liberty to go away ; but remera- 

 '' ber, that if thou art killed, the nation fhall 

 '' difown thee ; we fliall not weep for thee, nor 

 " avenge thy death." So irregular a life is pu- 

 nifhed with the greateft contempt among thefe 

 people, as among all others *. 



The 



'^ The young Indians fometimes ramble into the neigh- 

 bouring villages, and carry off the women ; thefe kinds of 



