An Hîjîorkal Journal of 



they may ha^ve is unlimited, commonly each has only one, but he 

 may put her away when he pleafes ; a Licence which few but 

 the Chiefs make Ufe o£-— The Women are pretty well fhaped 

 for Savages, and neat enough in their Drefs, and in every Thing 

 they do. The Daughters of the Noble Families can marry 

 none but obfcure Perfons ; but they have a Right to turn away 

 their Hufbands when they pleafe, and to take another, provided 

 there is no Relationfliip between them. 



If their Hufbands are unfaithful to them, they can order them 

 to be knocked on the Head, but they are not fubjed to the 

 fame Law therafelves. They may alfo have as many Gallants 

 as they think fit, and the Hufbandis not to take it amifs. This 

 is a Privilege belonging to the Blood of the Great Chief. The 

 Hufband of any one of thefe mull ftand in the Prefence of his 

 Wife in a refpedlful Pofture ; he does not eat with her ; he fa- 

 lates her in the fame Tone as her Domefbicks. The only Pri- 

 vilege which fuch a burthenfome Alliance procures him, is to be 

 exempt from Labour, and to have Authority over thofe who 

 ferve his Wife. 



The Natche'z.^dN^ two War Chiefs, two Mafters of the Cere- 



. ^ -2 monies for the Temple, two Officers to re- 

 Various Lu/toms -i ^ , . , ^ . ^ 



f //^^ Natchez g'^l3.îe what is done in Treaties oî Peace or 

 ^ ' War, one that has the Infpeélion of Works, 



and four others who are employed to order every Thing in the pub- 

 He Feafts. It is the Great Chief who appoints Perfons to thefe 

 Offices, and thofe who hold them are refpeded and obeyed as he 

 would be himfelf.---The Harvefl among the Natchex is in com- 

 mon. The Great Chief fets the Day for it, and calls the Vil- 

 lage together. Towards the End of July he appoints another 

 Day for theBeginningof a Fellival, which lalis three Days, which 

 are fpent in Sports and Feafting. 



Each private Perfon contributes fomething of his Hunting, 

 ^ . . ^is Fifhing, and his other Provifions, which 



Dejcnptzon oj a ^^^^^^ inMaiz, Beans, and Melons. The 

 rejtt^au ^ ^^^^^ ^^.^^ Woman- Chief prefide 



at the Feaft, fitting in a Cabin raifed above the Ground, and co- 

 vered with Boughs : They are carried to it in a Litter, and the 

 Great Chief holds in his Hand a Kind of Sceptre, adorned with 

 Feathers of various Colours, All the Nobles are round him in a 

 refpedlful Poilure. The lad Day the Great Chief makes a 

 Speech to the AlTembly : He exhorts every Body to be exadl in 

 the Performance of their Duties, efpecially to have a great Ve- 

 neration for the Spirits which refide in the Temple, and to be . 

 careful in inftruéling their Children, If any one has dilHn- 

 guilhed himfelf by fome Adion of Note, he makes his Elogium. 

 Twenty Years ago, the Tei»ple was reduced to Allies by Light- 



jaing.» 



