OF NORTH CAROLINA. 319 



they bring the prisoner to the place appointed for 

 the execution, where he is set down on his breech 

 on the ground. Then they all get about him and 

 you shall not see one sorrowful or dejected coun- 

 tenance amongst them, but all ?ery merrily dis- 

 posed, as if some comedy was to be acted instead of 

 a tragedy. He that is appointed to be the chief exe- 

 cutioner, takes a knife and bids him hold out his 

 hands, which he does, and then cuts round the wrist 

 through the skin, which is drawn off like a glove, 

 and flead quite off at the fingers' ends, then they 

 break his joints and bones, and buffet and tor- 

 ment him after a very inhuman manner, till some 

 violent blow perhaps ends his days ; then they 

 burn him to ashes and throw them down the river. 

 Afterwards they eat, drink and are merry, repea- 

 ting all the actions of the tormentors and the pris- 

 oner, with a great deal of mirth and satisfaction. 

 This accusation is laid against an Indian hero 

 sometimes wrongfully, or when they have a mind 

 to get rid of a man that has more courage and 

 conduct than his neighboring kings or great men ; 

 then they alledge the practice of poisoning In- 

 dians against him, and make a rehearsal of every 

 Indian that died for a year or two, and say that 

 they were poisoned by such an Indian ; which re- 

 ports stir up all the relations of the deceased 

 against the said person, and by such means make 

 him away presently. In some affairs, these sava- 

 ges are very reserved and politic, and will attend 

 a long time with a great deal of patience to bring 



