NORTH AMERICA. 
211 
The Indians make war againft, kill, and deftroy 
their own fpecies, and their motives fpring from 
the fame erroneous fource as they do in all other 
nations of mankind ; that is, the ambition of exhi- 
biting to their fellows a fuperior character of per- 
fonal and national valour, and thereby immorta- 
lizing themfelves, by tranfmitting their names with 
honour and luftre to pofterity ; or revenge of 
their enemy, for public or perfonal infults ; or, laft- 
ly, to extend the borders and boundaries of their x 
territories. But I cannot find, upon the ftricteft in- 
quiry, that their bloody contefts at this day are 
marked with deeper ftains of inhumanity or favage 
cruelty, than what may be obferved amongft the 
mod civilized nations : they do indeed fcalp their 
flain enemy, but th jy do not kill the females or chil- 
dren of either fex : the mod ancient traders, both ia 
the Lower and Upper Creeks, allured me they ne- 
ver faw an inftance of either burning or tormenting 
their male captives ; though it is fai-d they ufed to 
do it formerly. I faw in every town in the Nation 
and Siminoles that I vifited, more or lefs male cap- 
tives, fome extremely aged, who were free and in as 
good circumflances as their matters ; and all Haves 
have their freedom when they marry, which is per- 
mitted and encouraged,, when they and their offspring 
are every way upon an equality with their conquer- 
ors. They are given to adultery and fornication, 
but, I fuppofe, in no greater excefs than other na- 
tions of men. They punifli the delinquents, male 
and female equally alike, by taking off their ears. 
This is the punifli rhent for adultery. Infamy and 
difgrace is fuppofed to be a fufijcient punifliment for 
fornication, in either fex. 
They 
