312 LAWSON'S HISTORY 



fine flower silk shag ; and when new and fresh, 

 they become a bed very well, instead of a quilt. 

 Some of another sort are made of hair, raccoon, 

 bever, or squirrel skins, which are very warm. 

 Others again are made of the green part of the 

 skin of a mallard's head, which they sew perfectly 

 well together, their thread being either the sinews 

 of a deer divided very small, or silk grass. "When 

 these are finished, they look very finely, though 

 they must needs be very troublesome to make. 

 Some of their great men, as rulers and such, that 

 have plenty of deer skins by them, will often buy 

 the English made coats, which they wear on festi- 

 vals and other days of visiting. Yet none ever 

 buy any breeches, saying, that they are too much 

 confined in them, which prevents their speed in 

 running, &c. 



We have some Indians that are more civilized 

 than the rest, which wear hats, shoes, stockings, 

 and breeches, with very tolerable linnen shirts, 

 which is not common amongst these heathens. 

 The Paspitank Indians did formerly keep cattle 

 and make butter. 



These are them that wear the English dress. 

 Whether they have cattle now or no, I am not 

 certain, but I am of the opinion that such inclina- 

 tions in the savages should meet with encourage- 

 ment, and every Englishman ought to do them 

 justice and not defraud them of their land, which 

 has been allotted them formerly by the govern- 

 ment ; for if we do not show them examples of 



