( 33 ) 



and in cafe of fuccefs it is commonly the publick 

 who makes the prefents, and takes all the neceffary 

 fteps with the offended family. The prompt pu- 

 nifhment of the criminal would at once put an 

 end to the affair, and the relations of the deceafed 

 are at liberty to do their pleafure on him, if they 

 can get him in their hands ; but his own cabbin 

 think it inconfiftent with their honour to facri- 

 fice him, and often the village do not think pro- 

 per to compel them to it. 



I have read in a letter of Father Brebeuf, who 

 lived a long time among the Hurons, that thefe 

 Indians were wont to puniih murderers in this 

 manner. They extended the dead body on poles 

 fixed to the roof of a cabbin, and the murderer 

 was obliged to fit feveral days fuccefiively directly 

 under it, and to receive all that fell from the car- 

 cafs, not only on himfelf but alfo on his proviffons, 

 which were placed near him, except by means of fome 

 confiderable prefent made to the cabbin of the de- 

 funct, he obtained the privilege of faving his diet 

 from the pollution of this poifon ; but the Mif- 

 fionary does not tell us whether this was done by 

 publick authority, or was only by way of reprifal, 

 which thofe it concerned made ufe of after getting 

 the alfaffin in their power. 



Be this as it will, the way mod in ufe amongfi: 

 all the Indians to indemnify the relations of a man 

 who has been murdered, is to replace him by 

 means of a prifoner of war : in this cafe the cap- 

 tive is almoft always adopted, enters into pof- 

 iefiion of all the rights of the deceafed, and foon 

 caufes the perfon whole place he fills to be forgot- 

 ten. There are, hov/ever, certain odious crimes 



Vol. II. D which 



