OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 6S 



have observed several, especially one, the wild -invrtle: the other I 

 know not what to call, but are most fragrant. 



X. " The woods are adorned with lovely flowers, lor color, greatness, 

 figure and variety. I have seen the gardens of London best stored with 

 with that sort of beauty, but think they may be improved by our woods : 

 I have sent a few to a person of quality this year, for a trial. 



"Thus much of the country; next, of the natives, ov ahorigiacs. 



XI. "The natives I shall consider, in their persons, language, manners, 

 religion and government, with my sense of their original. For their 

 pei'sons, they are generally tall, straight, welhbuilt, and of singular pro- 

 portion; they tread strong and clever, and mostly walk with a lofty chin. 

 Of complexion, black, but by design; as the Gypsies, in England. Thev 

 grease themselves with bear's fat clarified; and using no defence against 

 gun or weather, their skins must needs be swarthy. Their eye is little 

 and black, not unlike a straightdooked Jew. 'j^lic thick lip, and flat 

 nose, so frequent with the East Indians and blacks, are not common to 

 them: for I have seen as comely Furoj^ean-like faces among them, of 

 both, as on your side the sea; and truly an Italian complexion hath not 

 much more of the white ; and the noses of several of them have as mucli 

 of the Roman. 



XII. "Their language is lofty, yet narrow; but, like the Ilehreic, in 

 signification full; like shortdiand, in writing, one word serveth in the 

 place of three, and the rest are supplied by the understanding of the 

 hearer: imperfect in their tenses, wanting in their moods, participles, 

 adverbs, conjunctions, interjections. I have m^ide it my business to un- 

 derstand it, that I might not want an interpreter, on any occasion; and 

 I must say, that I know not a language spoken in Europe, that hatk 

 words of more sweetness or greatness, in accent and emphasis, than theirs ; 

 for instance, Octocockon, Rancocas, Oricton, Shak, Marian, Poquesien; all 

 which are names of places, and have grandeur in them. Of Avords of 

 sweetness, Anna, is mother; Issimus, a brother; Xeleap, friend; Usqvf - 

 oret, very good; Pane, bread; Metsa, eat; Malta, no; Halta, to have; 

 Payo, to come; Sepassin, Passijon, the names of places; Ihmane, ISecanf!, 

 Menanse, Secatereus, are the names of persons ; if one ask them for any- 

 thing they have not, they will answer, Malta ne hatla : Avliich to translate 

 is, not 1 have; instead of I have not. 



XIII. "Of their customs and manners there is much to be said; I will 

 begin with children; so soon as they are born they wash them in water; 

 and while very young, and in cold weather to cliuse, the}' })lunge them in. 

 the rivers, to harden and embolden them. Having wrapt them in a clout, 

 they lay them on a strait, thin board, a little more than the length and 

 breadth of the child, and swaddle it fast, upon the board, to make it 

 straight; wherefore all Indians have flat heads; and thus they carrv 



