3 2 o An Hiftorical Journal of 



When the Chief has got the Number of Soldiers that the 

 ' Of the Pro^i- ^^P^^^^i^^ requires, ^ which he intends to 

 r r jjr make, he caufes a Drink to be prepared at 



nons for War. , . ^ i • i.- u • n j / ^V^^. 

 ^ his Cabin, which is called the Medicine of 



War, This is a Vomit made with a Root boiled in Water ; They 

 give to each Man two Pots of it, which they muft drink all at 

 once, and which they throw up again almoil as foon as they 

 have drank it, with mofl violent Reachings. Afterwards they 

 labour in making the necelTary Preparations ; and till the Day 

 fettled for their Departure, the Warriors meet every Evening and 

 Morning in an open Place, where after much dancing, and 

 telling their great Feats of War, every one fings his Song of 



Death. Thefe People are not lefs fuperilitious about their 



Dreams, than the Savages of Canada: There needs only a 

 bad Omen to caufe them to return when they are on a March. 

 The V/arriors march with a great deal of Order, and take 



Of their March ^^^^^ Precautions to encamp, and to rally. 

 es and ' Errant ^^^Y often fend out Scouts, but they never 

 ^meîits ^'^^^'^r' fet Centinels at Night: They put out all 



' \ * the Fires, they recommend themfelves to the 



Spirits, and they fleep in Security, after the Chief has exhort- 

 ed every one not to fnore too loud, and to keep always their 

 Arms near them in good Condition. Their Idols are expofed 

 on a Pole leaning towards the Enemy, and all the Warriors, 

 before they lay down, pafs one after another, with their 

 Fighting-Clubs in their Hands, before thefe pretended Dei- 

 ties : Then they turn tovv^ards the Enemy's Country, and 

 make great Threatnings, which the Wind often carries another 

 Way. 



It does not appear that the Natchez exercife on their Prifoners, 

 ; p during the March, the Cruelties which arc 



Vj tr:e mjoners. ^ç^^ Canada. When thefe Wretches are 

 arrived at the Great Village, they make them fing and dance 

 feveral Days together before the Temple. After which, they 

 are delivered to the P^elations of thofe who have been killed du- 

 ring the Campaign. They, on receiving them, burft into 

 Tears, then after having wiped their Eyes with the Scalps which 

 the Warriors have brought home, they join together to reward 

 thofe who have made them the Prefent of their Captives, whofe 

 Fate is always to be burnt. 



The Warriors change their Names as often as they perform 

 J new Exploits : They receive them from the 

 JNames of the ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ q^^^ç^ ^^^ç^ Names have 



yy amors. always fome Relation to the Aélion by which 



they have merited this Diilin^lion. Thofe who for the ïix'à. 

 Time have made a Prifoner,, or taken oiF a Scalp, mufi:, for a 



Month, 



