Travels in North America. 159 



ly the young People come out to hear the Particulars : Some- 

 times the whole Village comes out, but one alone addrelTes the 

 MefTenger, and learns from him the Detail of the News which 

 he brings : As the MefTenger relates a Fatt the other repeats it 

 aloud, turning towards thofe who accompianied him, and they 

 anfwer him by Acclamations or difiTial Cries, according as the 

 News is mournful or pleafmg. The Meiienger is then con- 

 ducted to a Cabin, v/here the Elders put to him the fame Quef- 

 tions as before ; after which a publick Crier invites all the 

 young People to go to meet the Warriors, and the Women to 



carry them Refrelhments. In fome Places they only think 



at firft of mourning for thofe they have loft. The Meflenger 

 makes only Cries of Death. They do not go to meet him, 

 but at his entering the Village he finds all the People af- 

 fembled, he relates in a few Words all that has pafTed, then re- 

 tires to his Cabin, where they carry him Food ; and for fome 

 Time they do nothing but mourn for the dead. 



When this Time is expired, they make another Cry to pro- 

 claim the Viâory. Then every one dries up his Tears, and 

 they think of nothing but rejoicing. Something like this is 

 pra6lifed at the Return of the Hunters : The Women who 

 flayed in the Village go to meet them as foon as they are in- 

 formed of their Approach, and before they enquire of the Suc- 

 cefs of their Hunting, they inform them by their Tears of the 

 Deaths that have happened fmce their Departure.— To return to 

 the Warriors, the Moment when the Women join them, is pro- 

 perly fpeaking the Beginning of the Punifhment of the Prifon- 

 ers : And when fome of them are intended to be adopted, which 

 is not allowed to be done by all Nations ; their future Parents, 

 whom they take Care to inform of it, go and receive them at a 

 little Diflance, and condu£l them to their Cabins by fome 

 round-about Ways. In general the Captives are a long Time 

 ignorant of their Fate, and there are few who efcape the firft 

 Fury of the Women. 



