2yo November 1748^. 



But that the manner of living contributes 

 greatly towards it, may be concluded from 

 the unanimous accounts of old people, con- 

 cerning the times of their childhood; ac- 

 cording to which, the inhabitants of thefe 

 parts, were at that time not fubjedt to fo 

 many difeafes as they are at prefent, and 

 people were feldom fick. All the old 

 Swedes likewife agreed, that their country- 

 men, who firfl came into North America^ 

 attained to a great age, and their children 

 nearly to the fame ; but that their grand 

 children, and great grand children did not 

 reach the age of their anceftors, and their 

 health was not near fo vigorous and durable. 

 But the Swedes v/ho firft fettled in America^ 

 lived very frugally ; they were poor, and 

 could not buy rum, brandy, or other ftrong 

 liquors, which they feldom diftilled them- 

 felves, as few of them had a diftilling vef- 

 fel. However they fometimes had a good 

 ftrong beer. They did not underftand the 

 art of making cyder, which is now fo com- 

 mon in the country : tea, coffee, choco^ 

 late, which are at prefent even the country 

 people's daily breakfaft, were wholly un- 

 known to them : moft of them had never 

 tafted fugar or punch. The tea which is 

 now drank, is either very old, or mixed 

 with all forts of herbs, fo that it no longer 



deferves 



