58 
THE HISTORY OF 
So soon as they approach the grounds on which the enemy is used to hunt, 
they never kindle any fire themselves, for fear of being found out by the 
smoke, nor will they shoot at any kind of game, though they should be half 
famished, lest they might alarm their foes, and put them upon their guard. 
Sometimes indeed, while they are still at some distance, they roast either 
venison or bear, till it is very dry, and then having strung it on their belts, 
wear it round their middle, eating very sparingly of it, because they know 
not when they shall meet with a fresh supply. But coming nearer, they begin 
to look all round the hemisphere, to watch if any smoke ascends, and listen *■ 
continually for the report of guns, in order to make some happy discovery 
for their own advantage. It is amazing to see their sagacity in discerning 
the track of a human foot, even amongst dry leaves, which to our shorter 
sight is quite undiscoverable. If by one or more of those signs they be 
able to find out the camp of any southern Indians, they squat down in some 
thicket, and keep themselves hush and snug till it is dark ; then creeping up 
softly, they approach near enough to observe all the motions of the enemy. 
And about two o’clock in the morning, when they conceive them to be in a 
profound sleep, for they never keep watch and ward, pour in a volley upon 
them, each singling out his man. The moment they have discharged their 
pieces, they rush in with their tomahawks, and make sure work of all that 
are disabled. Sometimes, when they find the enemy asleep round their little 
fire, they first pelt them with little stones to wake them, and when they get 
up, fire in upon them, being in that posture a better mark than when prostrate 
on the ground. Those that are killed of the enemy, or disabled, they scalp, 
that is, they cut the skin all round the head just below the hair, and then 
clapping their feet to the poor mortals’ shoulders, pull the scalp off clean, and 
carry it home in triumph, being as proud of those trophies, as the Jews used 
to be of the foreskins of the Philistines. This way of scalping was practised 
by the ancient Scythians, who used these hairy scalps as towels at home, and 
trappings for their horses when they went abroad. They also made cups 
of their enemies’ skulls, in which they drank prosperity to their country, and 
confusion to all their foes. The prisoners they happen to take alive in these 
expeditions generally pass their time very scurvily. They put them to all 
the tortures that ingenious malice and cruelty. can invent. And (what shows 
the baseness of the Indian temper in perfection) they never fail to treat those 
with greatest inhumanity that have distinguished themselves most by their 
bravery ; and, if he be a war captain, they do him the honour to roast him 
alive, and distribute a collop to all that had a share in stealing the victory.* 
They are very cunning in finding out new ways to torment their unhappy 
captives, though, like those of hell, their usual method is by fire. Sometimes they 
barbacue them over live coals, taking them off every now and then, to pro- 
long their misery ; at other times they will stick sharp pieces of lightwood 
all over their bodies, and setting them on fire, let them burn down into the 
flesh to the very bone. And when they take a stout fellow, that they believe 
able to endure a great deal, they will tear all the flesh off his bones with red 
hot pincers. While these and such like barbarities are practising, the victors 
are so far from being touched with tenderness and compassion, that they 
* Though who can reproach the poor Indians for this, when Homer makes his celebrated 
hero, Achilles, drag the body of Hector at the tail of his chariot, for having fought 
gallantly in defence of his country. Nor was Alexander the Great, with all his famed 
generosity, less inhuman to the brave Tyrians, two thousand of whom he ordered to be cru- 
cified in cold blood, for no other fault but for having defended their city most courageously 
against him, during a siege of seven months. And what was still more brutal, he dragged 
alive — — at the tail of his chariot, through all the streets, for defending the town with so 
much vigour. 
/ 
