NORTH AMERICA. 
5*3 
They marry only for a year's time, and, accord- 
ing to ancient cuftom, at the expiration of the year 
they renew the marriage: but there is feldom an 
inftance of their feparating after, they have children. 
If it mould fo happen, the mother takes the chil- 
dren, under her own protection, though the father 
is obliged to contribute towards their maintenance 
during their minority and the mother's widow- 
hood. 
The Mufcogulges allow of polygamy in the ut- 
moft latitude ; every man takes as many wives as he 
choofes, but the fifft is queen, and the others her 
handmaids and affociates. 
It is common for a great man amongfl them, 
who has already half a dozen wives, if he fees a 
child of eight or nine years of age, who pleafes 
him, and he can agree with her parents or guar- 
dians, to marry her and take her into his houfe at 
that age. 
Adultery is always punilhed with cropping, 
which is the only corporal punifhment amongit 
them ; and death or out-lawry for murder ; and 
infamy for lefs crimes, as fornication, theft, &c. 
which produces fuch repeated marks and reflec- 
tions of ridicule and contempt, that it generally 
ends in voluntary banifhment ; and thefe renega* 
does and vagabonds are generally the ruffians who 
commit depredations and murders on the fron- 
tiers. 
The Mufcogulges bury their deceafed in the 
earth. They dig a four-fquare deep pit under the 
cabin or couch which the deceafed lay on, in his 
houfe, lining the grave with Cyprefs bark, where 
they place the corpfe in a fitting pofture, as if it 
were alive ; depofiting with him his gun, toma- 
L 1 hawk^ 
