i 7 8 



Language of 



tke Kew Ne- 

 therlander*. 



Money. 



Vices and 

 Vermes. 



Strange 

 Stoves. 





Arm?. 



Remarkable 

 aftions of 

 fome Prifon- 

 ext. 



Laws.' 



AMERICA. Chap, II. 



themfelves and not without great noife leaping in and about a great Fire : at laft 

 they makel great Cry all together J upon which (as they lay) the Devil appears to 

 them in the fhape either of a tame or wild Bcaft : the firft fignifics bad ,and the other 

 good fortune j both inform them of future Events, though darkly , and if the bu- 

 finefs fall out contrary, they affirm that they have not rightly underftood the De- 

 vil's meaning. Moreover they bewitch fome in fuclva manner, that they foam at 

 the Mouth, throw themfelves into the Fire, and beat themfelves fevercly . and fo 

 foon as they whifper in the Ear of thofe whom they have bewitch'd, they immedi- 

 ately recover their former health. 



The Language of this Countrey is very various, yet it is divided into onely four 

 principal Tongues, as the Manhattans, Wappanoo, SiaVanoo, and Minquas, which are 

 very difficult for Strangers to learn, becaufe they are fpoken without any Grounds 



or Rules. 



Their Money is made of the innermoft Shells of a certain Shell-fifh, caft up 

 twice a year by the Sea : Thefe Shells they grind fmobth, and make a Hole in 

 the middle, cutting them of an exaft bignefs, and fo put them on Strings, which 

 then fcrve in ftead of Gold, Silver, and Copper Coin. 



Now ro fay fomething of the Vices and Venues of the Inhabitants. They are 

 in the firft place very flovenly and nafty,ftubborn, covetous, revengeful,and much 

 addicted to filching and dealing. Some appear referv'd, ufing few words, which 

 they utter after ferious confideration, and remember a long time. Their Under- 

 ftandings being improv'd by the Hollanders, they are quick of apprehenfion, to di- 

 ftinguifli good from bad : they will not endure any Oppreffion,but are very patient 

 of Heat,Cold,Hunger and Third. They have a ftrange way of ufing Stoves, which 

 are fet in the Ground and cover'd with Earth, into which they go through a little 

 Door. A fick Perfon coming into the fame, fets himfelf down, and places hot 

 Stones round about him 5 which done, and having fweat a confiderable time, he 

 leaps into cold Water, by which he finds eafe of all his Diftcmpers. 



Though thefe People know no great diftin&ion between Man and Man, as 

 other Nations, yet they have noble and ignoble Families amongft them ; fuperior 

 and inferior Offices, which they enjoy by inheritance • but fometimes the Martial 

 Offices are beftowed according to the Valour of the Perfons : Their Generals fel- 

 dom give their Enemies a Field-Battel, by drawing or dividing their Men into Re- 

 giments or Companies, but make it their whole Defign to defeat their Enemies by 

 fudden Sallies from Ambufcado's ; for they never ftand out a clofe Fight, unlefs 

 compelled to it, but if encompafs'd round, they fight to the laft Man. When any 

 danger threatens, the Women and Children are convey'd to a fecure place. Their 

 Arms formerly were Bowes and Arrows, and.Battel-axes, but now they ufe Muf- 

 quets, which they have learn'd to handle with great dexterity. Their fcjuare 

 Shields cover all their Bodies and Shoulders. About their Heads they tie a Snakes 

 Skin, in the middle of which flicks either a Fox's or Bear's Tail. They cannot be 

 known by their Faces, they are all over fo befmear'd with Paint of divers colours. 

 They feldom give Quarter to their Enemies, except Women and Children, which 

 the Conquerors ufe as their own, that by that means they may increafe and 

 ftrengthen themfelves : and if any Prifoner is not kill'd prefently after the Battel, 

 but falls into the Hands of one whofe Relations have formerly been (lain by his 

 Party, he is Roafted three days by degrees before he gives up the Ghoft. It de- 

 ferves no fmall admiration, that the Sufferer during the whole time of his Torture, 

 Sings till he breathes his laft. They have few or no Puniflimcnts for any Offence, 

 committing few Crimes which arc by them accounted Capital. If any one fteal, 



and 



J 



