ravel s in North America. 205 



it, which he did very (kilfully. He took Advantage of their 

 Curioilty to get out of their Hands. One Day, as he was 

 prancing and exercifing his Horfe before them, he got a little 

 Diftance from them infenfibly ; then fuddenly clapping Spurs to 

 his Horfe, he was foon out of Sight. As they had taken no 

 other Prifoner, it was not certainly known from what Part of 

 Nenv Mexico thefe Spaniards came, nor what was their Defign z 

 For what I have already faid of ^t, is only founded on the Re- 

 port of the Savages, who perha|)s intended to make their Court 

 to us, in publilhing that by this Defeat they had done us a 

 great Service. 



All that they brought me, was of the Spoils of the Almoner 

 that was killed ; and they took from him alfo a Book of Prayers, 

 which I did not fee : It was probably his Breviary. I bought 

 the Piftol : The Shoes were vv^orth nothing ; and the Savage 

 would not part with his Ointment, fancying that it v/as a Sove- 

 reign Remedy for all Difeafes. I had the Curiofity to afe how 

 he intended to ufe it ; he replied, it was fufficient to fwallow a 

 little ; and with v/hat Difeafe foever one v>^as attacked, it effedled 

 an immediate Cure : But lie did not tell me that he had as 

 yet made a Trial of it, and I advifed him to the contrary. 

 We begin here to find the Savages very ignorant ; they are far 

 from being fo ingenious, or atleafl fo apt to learn, as thofe who 

 are more converfant v/ith us. 



The next Day feveral Sakis came to the Miflionary, with whom 

 Council of th ^ lodged, and invited me to come to a Kind 

 0^1 • j'^^ Council, which they propofed to hold. Ï 



QZ.)si%yanaon^joioat r^j j i' \. ^ ^ \ 



Q^^^q^ coniented ; and when every one had taken 



* his Place, the Chief laid a Collar on the 



Ground before m.e ; and the Orator beginning his Speech, prayed 

 me in the Name of all the reft to engage the King (a) to take 

 them under his Protedion, and to purify the Air, which for 

 fome Time they faid had been infeéled, which appeared by the 

 Num^ber of fick Perfons then in their Villages, and to defend 

 them from their Enemies. I replied, that the King was very 

 powerful, and perhaps more fo than they imagined ; but that 

 his Power did not extend over the Elements ; and thatwhea 

 Bifeafes, and other like fatal Cafualties, afîiicled his Provinces^ 

 he addre/Ted himfelf, that an End might be put to them, to the 

 Great Spirit that created Heaven and Earth, and who is alone 

 the Sovereign Lord of Nature : That they fliould do the fame^ 

 and they v/ould find the Benefit of it. But to prevail with him 

 to hear their Prayers, they muft firft acknowledge Jiim, and ren- 



(a) Thefe Savages always fpeak the Title cf the King (Lc Roy) m 

 Trench, ■ - 



