ould do? If we could hunt, swim, and do a thousand Things
they use? He answer'd 'em, We could. Then they invited us into their
Houses, and dress'd Venison and Buffalo for us; and going out, gather'd
a Leaf of a Tree, called a _Sarumbo_ Leaf, of six Yards long, and spread
it on the Ground for a Table-Cloth; and cutting another in Pieces,
instead of Plates, set us on little low _Indian_ Stools, which they cut
out of one entire Piece of Wood, and paint in a sort of Japan-Work. They
serve every one their Mess on these Pieces of Leaves; and it was very
good, but too high-season'd with Pepper. When we had eat, my Brother and
I took out our Flutes, and play'd to 'em, which gave 'em new Wonder; and
I soon perceiv'd, by an Admiration that is natural to these People, and
by the extreme Ignorance and Simplicity of 'em, it were not difficult to
establish any unknown or extravagant Religion among them, and to impose
any Notions or Fictions upon 'em. For seeing a Kinsman of mine set some
Paper on Fire with a Burning-Glass, a Trick they had never before seen,
they were like to have ador'd him for a God, and begg'd he would give
'em the Characters or Figures of his Name, that they might oppose it
against Winds and Storms: which he did, and they held it up in those
Seasons, and fancy'd it had a Charm to conquer them, and kept it like a
holy Relique. They are very superstitious, and call'd him the Great
_Peeie_, that is, _Prophet_. They shewed us their _Indian Peeie_, a
Youth of about sixteen Years old, as handsome as Nature could make a
Man. They consecrate a beautiful Youth from his Infancy, and all Arts
are used to compleat him in the finest Manner, both in Beauty and Shape:
He is bred to all the little Arts and Cunning they are capable of; to
all the legerdemain Tricks, and Slight of Hand, whereby he imposes on
the Rabble; and is both a Doctor in Physick and Divinity: And by these
Tricks makes the Sick believe he sometimes eases their Pains, by drawing
from the afflicted Part little Serpents, or odd Flies, or Worms, or any
strange Thing; and though they have besides undoubted good Remedies for
almost all their Diseases, they cure the Patient more by Fancy than by
Medicines, and make themselves feared, loved, and reverenced. This young
_Peeie_ had a very young Wife, who seeing my Brother kiss her, came
running and kiss'd me. After this they kiss'd one another, and made it a
very great Jest, it being so novel; and new Admiration and Laugh