resented to 'em by myself; some as big as my Fist, some less;
and all of various Excellencies, such as Art cannot imitate. Then we
trade for Feathers, which they order into all Shapes, make themselves
little short Habits of 'em, and glorious Wreaths for their Heads, Necks,
Arms and Legs, whose Tinctures are unconceivable. I had a Set of these
presented to me, and I gave 'em to the _King's Theatre_; it was the
Dress of the _Indian Queen_, infinitely admir'd by Persons of Quality;
and was inimitable. Besides these, a thousand little Knacks, and
Rarities in Nature; and some of Art, as their Baskets, Weapons, Aprons,
&c. We dealt with 'em with Beads of all Colours, Knives, Axes, Pins and
Needles, which they us'd only as Tools to drill Holes with in their
Ears, Noses and Lips, where they hang a great many little Things; as
long Beads, Bits of Tin, Brass or Silver beat thin, and any shining
Trinket. The Beads they weave into Aprons about a Quarter of an Ell
long, and of the same Breadth; working them very prettily in Flowers of
several Colours; which Apron they wear just before 'em, as _Adam_ and
_Eve_ did the Fig-leaves; the Men wearing a long Stripe of Linen, which
they deal with us for. They thread these Beads also on long
Cotton-threads, and make Girdles to tie their Aprons to, which come
twenty times, or more, about the Waste, and then cross, like a
Shoulder-belt, both Ways, and round their Necks, Arms and Legs. This
Adornment, with their long black Hair, and the Face painted in little
Specks or Flowers here and there, makes 'em a wonderful Figure to
behold. Some of the Beauties, which indeed are finely shap'd, as almost
all are, and who have pretty Features, are charming and novel; for they
have all that is called Beauty, except the Colour, which is a reddish
Yellow; or after a new Oiling, which they often use to themselves, they
are of the Colour of a new Brick, but smooth, soft and sleek. They are
extreme modest and bashful, very shy, and nice of being touch'd. And
tho' they are all thus naked, if one lives for ever among 'em, there is
not to be seen an indecent Action, or Glance: and being continually us'd
to see one another so unadorn'd, so like our first Parents before the
Fall, it seems as if they had no Wishes, there being nothing to heighten
Curiosity: but all you can see, you see at once, and every Moment see;
and where there is no Novelty, there can be no Curiosity. Not but I have
seen a handsome young _Indian_,