302 LAWSON'S HISTORY 



time they have had several children ; if they part, 

 and another man possesses her, all the children go 

 along with the mother, and none with the father. 

 And therefore, on this score it ever seems impos- 

 sible for the Christians to get their children (which 

 they have by these Indian women) away from them ; 

 whereby they might bring them up in the knowl- 

 edge of the Christian principles. Nevertheless, we 

 often find, that English men, and other Europeans 

 that have been accustomed to the conversation of 

 these savage women, and their way of living, have 

 been so allured with that careless sort of life, as to 

 be constant to their Indian wife, and her relations, 

 so long as they lived, without ever desiring to return 

 again amongst the English, although they had very 

 fair opportunities of advantages amongst their 

 countrymen ; of which sort I have known several. 



As for the Indian marriages, I have read and 

 heard of a great deal of form and ceremony used, 

 which I never saw ; nor yet could learn in the 

 time I have been amongst them, any otherwise 

 than I shall here give you an account of, which is 

 as follows : 



When any young Indian has a mind for such a 

 girl to his wife, he, or some one for him, goes to 

 the young woman's parents, if living ; if not, to 

 her nearest relations, where they make offers of 

 the match betwixt the couple. The relations re- 

 ply, they will consider of it ; which serves for a 

 sufficient answer, till there be a second meeting 

 about the marriage, which is generally brought 



