of the Ifthmus of America. 365 



Adultery is punifhed among them with the Puni &- 1 

 Death of both Parties. Yet if the Woman confef- 

 fes the Fa£t to her Husband, and fwears fhe was 

 forc'd, (he finds Favour : But if fhe conceals it, and 

 it be provM againft her, fhe is burnt. Their 

 Laws are fevere ajfo in other Refpe&s ; for a Thief Theft, 

 dies .without Mercy. 



If a Man debauches a Virgin, they thruft a Sort and de- 

 of Briar up the Paffage of his Penis, and then turn flounn S 

 it round ten or a dozen Times : Which is not only Vlr S ms# 

 a great Torment, but commonly mortifies the 

 Part ; and the Perfon dies of it ; but he has Liber- 

 ty to cure himfelf if he can. Thefe Fa£ts muft be 

 proved by Oath ; which is by their Tooth. 



When they marry, the Father of the Bride, or Their 

 the next Man of Kin, keeps her privately in the fame Mai ™S e « 

 Apartment with himfelf the firft feven N'ghts ; 

 whether to exprefs an Unwillingnefs to part with 

 her, or for what other Reafon I know not , and 

 fhe is then delivered to her Husband. 



When a Man difpofes of his Daughter, he invites 

 all the Indians within 20 Miles round, to a great 

 Feaft, which he provides for them. The Men who Prefent* 

 come to the Wedding bring their Axes along with^ 0 ^^ 

 them, to work with : The Women bring about 

 half a Bufhel of Maiz : The Boys bring Fruit and 

 Roots : The Girls Fowls and Eggs ; for none come 

 empty-handed. They fet their Prefents at the 

 Door of the Houfe, and go away again, till all the 

 reft of the Guefts have brought theirs ; which are 

 all received in, and difpos'd of by the People of the 

 Houfe. 



Then the Men return firft to the Wedding, and Marriage 

 the Bridegroom prefents each Man with a CaJabafh Ceremo- 

 of ftrong Drink, and conducts them through the nies * 

 Houfe one by one, into fome open Place behind it. 

 The Women come next, who likewife receive a Ca 

 labaCh of Liquor, and march through the Houfe. 



Then 



