Travels in North America. 143 



fpoke to them ; and as he always appeared in publkk from 

 that Day. They then paint their Faces, every one according 

 to his own Fancy, and all of them in a very frightful Manner, 

 The Chief makes them a ihort Speech ; then he comes cut of 

 his Cabin, finging his Song of Death : They all follow him in a 

 Line, keeping a profound Silence, and they do the fame çvery 

 Morning when they renew their March. Here the Women go 

 before with the Provifions ; and when the W arriors come up with 

 them, they give them their Clothes, and remain almoiî: naked, at 

 leaft as much as the Seafon will permit. 



Formerly the Arms of thefe People were Bows and Arrows, 

 T.J and a Kind of Javelin ; which, as well as 

 Of their Arms, ^j^^.^ Arrows, was armed with a Point of 

 off enflée and dejen- go^e wrought in different Shapes. Befides 

 fi'^^' this, they had v/hat they cal] the Head-» 



breaker : This is a little Club of very hard Wood, the Head of 

 which is round, and has one Side with an Edge to cut. The 

 greateft Part have no defenfive Arms ; but when they attack an 

 Intrenchment, they cover their whole Body with little light 

 Boards t Some have a Sort of Cuirafs made of Rufliesj or fmall 

 pliable Sticks, pretty well v/rought : They had alfo Defences 

 for their Arms and Thighs of the fame Matter. But as this 

 Armour was not found to be Proof againil Fire Arms, they have 

 left it off, and ufe nothing in its Stead. The Wellern Savages 

 always make Ufe of Bucklers of Bulls Hides, which are very 

 light, and which a Pvîuiket-Ball will not pierce. It is fomething 

 furprifing that the other Nations do not ufe them. 



When they make Ufe of our Swords, which is very feldom, 

 they ufe them like Spontoons ; but when they can get Guns^ 

 and Powder, and Ball, they lay afide their Bows and Arrows, and 

 (hoot very well. V/e have often had Reafon to repent of letting 

 them have any Fire Arms ; but it was not we who firft did it : 

 The Iroquois having got fome of the Dutch, then in Poffeffion of 

 Ne^ Tork, we were under a Neceffity of giving the fame to our 

 Allies. Thefe Savages have a Kind of Enfigns to know one 

 another, and to rally by : Thefe are little Pieces of Bark cut 

 rounds which they put on the Top of a Pole, and on which they 

 have traced the Mark of their Nation, and of their Village. If 

 the Party is num^erous, each Family or Tribe has its Enfign with 

 its diftinguifhing Mark : Their Arms are alfo diftinguifhed with 

 different Figures^ and fometimes with a particular Mark of the 

 Chief. 



But what the Savages would Hill lefe forget than their Arms, 

 Of the Care ^nd v/hich they have the greatefl Care about 



. , f thev are capable of, are their Manitous. I 



take to carry ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ .^^ ^^^^ 



