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 
jnftance of their feparating after they have children. 
If it fhould fo happen, the mother takes the chil- 
dren under her own protection, though the father is 
obliged to contribute towards their maintenance du- 
ring their minority and the mother’s widowhood. 
The Mufcogulges allow of polygamy in the ut- 
moft latitude ; every man takes as many wives as he 
choofes, but the firft is queen, and the others her 
handmaids and affociates. 
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 houle at 
that age. n 
Adultery is always punifhed with cropping, which 
Is the only cqrporal punifhment amongft them ; and 
death or outlawry for murder ; and infamy for lefs 
crimes, as fornication, theft, &c. which produces 
fuch repeated marks and reflections of ridicule and 
contempt, that it generally ends in voluntary banifh- 
ment ; and thefe renegadoes and vagabonds are ge- 
nerally the ruffians who commit depredations and 
murders on the frontiers. 
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 j depofiting with him his gun, toma- 
L. 1 hawk* 
