travels in North America. 279 



them Prefents : LaHiy, they carry them to the Place where 

 they are to remain always. But I had forgot to tell you, that all 

 thefe Marches are made to the Sound of their Inftruments, ac- 

 companied with their bell Voices, and that everyone in thefe 

 Marches keeps Time to the Mufic. 



This laft and common Burial-Place is a great Pit, which they line 

 with their finell Furs, and the bed Things they have. The Pre-» 

 fents defigned for the Dead, are fet by themfeîves. By Degrees, as 

 the ProceiTion arrives, each Family range themfeives on a Kind of 

 Scaffolds fet up round the Pit ; and the Moment the Bones are 

 laid in, the Women renew their weeping and wailing. Then 

 ail prefent go down into the Pit, and every one takes a little 

 of the Earth, which they keep carefully. They fancy it pro* 

 cures Luck at Play. The Bodies and the Bones, ranged in Or- 

 der, are covered with entire new Furs, and over that with Bark, 

 on which they throw Stones, Wood, and Eatth. Every one re- 

 turns to his own Cabin ; but the Women come for feveral Days 

 after, and pour &agamtty on the Place. 



/ am, 



LET TER XXVL 



Jaurney to YluiTtov Y . Of the Ri^er of the Illinois. Reception 

 of the Prifoners among thefe People. Their Manner of burnt ncr 

 ihem» Some Things peculiar in ihsir Way of U^ving. ^ 



Madam, Pimiteouy, 'OBohey^^ 



THE Night of the ïy th of this Month, the Froil, which for 

 eight Days paft v/as perceivable every Morning, encreafed 

 confiderably. This was early for this Climate, for we were in 41^ 

 ^ 7^ /. . . r- 40 ' Lat , The following Days we went forward 

 th ThSilîr ^^""^ Morning to Night, favoured by the Cur- 

 ^ ^ ^* rent, which is pretty ilrong, and fome times 



by the Wind : In Fa^, we made a great deal of Way, but we ad- 

 vanced very little on our Jomrney : After having gone 10 or 12 

 Leagues, we found ourfelves fo near our laâ Encampment, that 

 Perfons in both Places might have feen each other, and even 

 have talked together, at kailv/ith a Speaking-Trumpet. But 

 it was fôme Confolation to us, that the River and its Borders 

 were covered with Wild-Fowl, fattened with wild Oats, which 

 v/ere then ripe. I alfo gathered fome ripe Grapes, which were 

 of the Shape and Eignefs of a Muiket-Ballj and foft enough, but 



of 



