that of the Pamunky Indians, which was performed in
the year 1694, yet the Appomattoxs, formerly a great nation, though now
an inconsiderable people, made a huskanaw in the year 1690, and brought
home the same number they carried out.

Sec. 33. I can account no other way for the great pains and secrecy of the
keepers, during the whole process of this discipline, but by assuring
you, that it is the most meritorious thing in the world to discharge
that trust well, in order to their preferment to the greatest posts in
the nation, which they claim as their undoubted right, in the next
promotion. On the other hand, they are sure of a speedy passport into
the other world, if they should, by their levity or neglect, shew
themselves in the least unfaithful.

Those which I have observed to have been huskanawed, were lively,
handsome, well timbered young men, from fifteen to twenty years of age,
or upward, and such as were generally reputed rich.

I confess, I judged it at the first sight to be only an invention of the
seniors, to engross the young men's riches to themselves; for, after
suffering this operation, they never pretended to call to mind anything
of their former property; but their goods were either shared by the old
men, or brought to some public use; and so those younkers were obliged
to begin the world again.

But the Indians detest this opinion, and pretend that this violent
method of taking away the memory, is to release the youth from all their
childish impressions, and from that strong partiality to persons and
things, which is contracted before reason comes to take place. They hope
by this proceeding, to root out all the prepossessions and unreasonable
prejudices which are fixed in the minds of children. So that, when the
young men come to themselves again, their reason may act freely, without
being biased by the cheats of custom and education. Thus, also, they
become discharged from the remembrance of any ties by blood, and are
established in a state of equality and perfect freedom, to order their
actions, and dispose of their persons, as they think fit, without any
other control than that of the law of nature. By this means also they
become qualified, when they have any public office, equally and
impartially to administer justice, without having respect either to
friend or relation. Puffend. p. 7, book I. A proselyte of justice of
the Jews had a new soul.

Sec. 34. The Indians offer sacrifice almost upo