62 OP NORTH CAROLINA. 



forehead like the eves of a house, which seems 

 very frightful. They being asked the reason why 

 they practiced this method, replied, the Indian's 

 sight was fciuch strengthened and quicker thereby 

 to discer^lhe game in hunting at larger distance, 

 and so ne^er missed of becoming expert hunters, the 

 perfection of which they all aim at, as we do to 

 become experienced soldiers, learned school-men, 

 or artists in mechanics. He that is a good hunter 

 never misses of being a favorite amongst the 

 women ; the prettiest girl being always bestowed 

 upon the chiefest sportsman, and those of a gross- 

 er mould upon the useless lubbers. Thus they 

 have a graduation amongst them, as well as other 

 nations. As for the solemnity of marriages amongst 

 them, kept with so much ceremony as divers au- 

 thors affirm, it never appeared amongst those 

 many nations I have been withal, any otherwise 

 than in the manner I have mentioned hereaf- 

 ter. 



The girls, at twelve or thirteen years of age, as 

 soon as nature prompts them, freely bestow their 

 maiden heads on some youth about the same age, 

 continuing her favors on whom she most affects, 

 changing her mate very often, few or none of 

 them being constant to one, till a greater number 

 of years has made her capable of managing do- 

 mestic affairs, and she hath tried the vigor of most 

 of the nation she belongs to. Multiplicity of gal- 

 lants never being a stain to a female's reputation, 

 or the least hinderance of her advancement ; but 



