Travels in North America. 157 



creafes the Horror of the Fight ; and from this Pattern one 

 might make a true Pidlure of Hell. When the Vidory is no 

 longer doubtful, they directly difpatch all thofe whom it would 

 be too troublefome to carry away, and feek only to tire out the 

 reft they intend to make Prifoners. 



The Savages are naturally intrepid, and notwithftanding their 

 brutal Fiercenefs, they yet preferve in the midft of Aélion much 

 Coolnefs. Neverthelefs they never light in the Field but when they 

 cannot avoid it. Their Reafon is, that a Vidory marked with the 

 Blood of the Conquerors, is not properly a Vidory, and that 

 the Glory of a Chief confifts principally in bringing back all 

 his People fafe and found. I have been told, that when two 

 Enemies that are acquainted meet in the Fight, there fometimes 

 pafles between them Dialogues much like that of Homer s He- 

 roes. I do not think this happens in the Height of the En- 

 gagement ; but it may happen that in little Rencounters, or per- 

 haps before paffing a Brook, or forcing an Intrenchment, they 

 fay fomething by Way of Defiance, or to call to Mind fome fuch 

 former Rencounter. 



War is commonly made by a Surprize, and it generally fuc- 

 Their Inlîina to ' Savages very frequently 



kno^ the Mark of ^^^^^ Precautions neceffary to fhun a 

 thdr Enem'mltets ^^^P^^^^' ^^^^7 ^^^^e and fKilful in 



eir nemies eps, f^j-prifing. On the other Hand, thefe Peo- 

 ple have a wonderful Talent, I might fay an Infcinél, to know 

 if any Perfon has pafied through any Place. On the îlîorteft 

 Grafs, on the hardeft Ground, even upon Stones, they difcover 

 fome Traces, and by the Way they are turned, by the Shape of 

 their Feet, by the Manner they are feparated from each other, 

 they diftinguifh, as they fay, the Footiteps of different Nations, 

 and thofe -of Men from thofe of Women. I thought a long 

 Time that there was fome Exaggeration in this Matter, but the 

 Reports of thofe who have lived among the Savages are fo una- 

 nimous herein, that I fee no Room to doubt of their Sincerity: 

 Till the Conquerors are in a Country of Safety, they march 

 Precautions to -^^^^^^^ expedition fly ; and left the Wound- 

 /• ' / • 7> . . ed fliould retard their Retreat, they carry them 

 fecure their Retreat , ^ t . ^ i • j 



and to keet their ^ turns on Litters, or draw them in Sledges 

 Pri^ ^ • Winter. When they re-enter their Canoes, 



' they make their Prifoners fing, and they 



prai5life the fame Thing every Time they meet any Allies ; aa 

 Honour which cofcs them a Feaft who receive it, and the un- 

 fortunate Captives fomething more than the Trouble of Sing- 

 ing : For they invite the Allies to carefs them, and to carefs z 

 Prifoner is to do him all the Mifchief they can devife, or to maim 

 him iiik fiich a Manner that he is lamed for ever. But there are 



fome 



