VOL. LXXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. QS 



or a prisoner, or a belt consisting of some thousands of wampum ; and this 

 ceremony is performed by every friend of the deceased. The purpose and foun- 

 dation of war parties therefore, is in general to procure a prisoner or scalp to 

 replace the friend or relation of the Indian who is the head of the party. An 

 Indian who wishes to replace a friend or relation, presents a belt to his ac- 

 quaintance, and as many as chuse to follow him accept this belt, and become 

 his party. After this, it is of no consequence whether he goes on the expedi- 

 tion or remains at home, as it often happens that he is a child, he is still con- 

 sidered as the head of the party. The belt he presented to his party is returned 

 fixed to the scalp or prisoner, and passes along with them to the friends of the 

 person he replaces. Hence it happens, that a war party, returning with more 

 scalps or prisoners than the original intention of the party required, will often 

 give one of these supernumerary scalps or prisoners to another war party whom 

 they meet going out; on which this party, having fulfilled the purpose of their 

 expedition, will sometimes return without going to war. 



XII. Abstract of a Register of the Barometer, Thermometer, and Rain, at 

 Lyndon, Rutland, 1785. By Thomas Barker, Esq. Also of the Rain at 

 South Lambeth, Surrey ; and at Selbourn and Byfield, Hampshire, p. 236. 



