NORTH AMERICA. 
497 
po me fo incredibly inhuman and horrid, that it was 
with the utmoft difficulty I affumed refolution fuffir 
.cient to enquire into it. 
The traders aiTured me that they knew no infiance 
of fuch barbarifm ; but that there had been in- 
ftances of the communities performing fuch a deed 
at the earned requefl of the victim. 
When I was at Mucclaffe town, early one morn- 
ing, at the invitation of the chief trader, we re- 
paired to the public fquare, taking with us fome 
prefents for the Indian chiefs. On our arrival we 
took our feats in a circle of venerable men, round 
a fire in the centre of the area : other citizens were 
continually coming in, and amongft them I was 
{truck with awe and veneration at the appearance 
of a very aged man ; his hair, what little he had, 
was as white as fnow ; he was conducted by three 
young men, one having hold of each arm, and the 
third behind to Heady him. On his approach the 
whole circle faluted him, " welcome," and made 
way for him : he looked as fmiling and cheerful as 
youth, yet Hone-blind by, extreme old age : he was 
the moft ancient chief of the town, and they all 
feemed to reverence him. Soon after the old man 
had feated himfelf, I diffributed my prefents, giving 
him a very line handkerchief and a twill of choice 
tobacco, which palled through the hands of an el- 
derly chief who fat next him, telling him it was a 
prefent from one of their white brothers, lately 
arrived in the nation from Charleilon : he received 
the prefent with a frnile, and thanked me, return- 
ing the favour immediately with his own ftone 
pipe and cat (km of tobacco : and then compli- 
/rnented me with a long oration, the purport of 
which was the value he fet on the friendmip of 
K k the 
