OF NORTH CAROLINA. 293 



ling and uneasy, and wonder they do not go out 

 of this world, since they are so uneasy and discon- 

 tented in it. All their misfortunes and losses end 

 in laghter ; for if their cabins take fire, and all their 

 goods are burnt therein (indeed, all will strive to pre- 

 vent farther damage whilst there is any possibility) 

 yet such a misfortune ends in a hearty fit of laughter, 

 unless some of their kinsfolks and friends have lost 

 their lives ; but then the case is altered, and they 

 become very pensive, and go into deep mourning, 

 which is continued for a considerable time ; some- 

 times longer or shorter, according to the dignity 

 of the person, and the number of relations he had 

 near him. 



The burial of their dead is performed with a 

 great deal of ceremony, in which one nation dif- 

 fers in some few circumstances from another, yet 

 not so much but we may, by a general relation, 

 pretty nearly account for them all. 



When an Indian is dead the greater person he 

 was, the more expensive is his funeral. The first 

 thing which is done, is to place the nearest rela- 

 tions near the corps, who mourn and weep very 

 much, having their hair hanging down their shoul- 

 ders in a very forlorn manner. After the dead 

 person has lain a day and a night in one of their 

 hurdles of canes, commonly in some out house 

 made for that purpose, those that officiate about 

 the funeral go into the town, and the first young 

 men they meet withal, that have blankets or match 

 coats on, whom they think fit for their turn, they 



