NORTH AMERICA, 
They marry only for a year’s time, arid* accord- 
ing to ancient cuftom, at the expiration of the 
year they renew the marriage : but there is fel- 
dom an inftance of their feparating after they 
have children. If it fliould fo happen, the mo- 
ther takes the children under her own prote&ion, 
though the father is obliged to contribute to- 
wards their maintainance during their minority 
and the mother’s widowhood. 
The Mufcogulges allow of polygamy in the 
utmoft latitude ; every man takes as many wives 
as he choofes, but the firft is queen, and the 
others her handmaids and afiociates. 
It is common for a great man amongft 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 alwavs puniihed with cropping, 
which is the only corporal puniftiment amongft 
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 banifliment ; and thefe rene- 
gadoes and vagabonds are generally the ruffians 
who commit depredations and murders on the 
frontiers. v 
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 ; depositing with him his gun, toma- 
imf 
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