ns_, for whom with their Cousins
the _Jews_, none but God knows what Blessings may still be reserved in
Store, it being to be hoped that they and all the Ends of the World may
be converted, and see and partake of the Salvation of our God; so that
by all may the Lord God of _Shem_ at length be blessed.

_Thus far_, as to my Notions of the Original of the _Indians_, whom I
imagine to be descended from some of the Sons of _Joktan_, second Son of
_Eber_, sprung from _Shem_, _Noah_'s eldest Son: With a Derivation of
the _Whites_ from _Japheth_ the youngest, and the _Negroes_ from some of
the Sons of _Canaan_, Descendant of _Ham_, _Noah's_ second Son.

CHAP. II.

_Of the Government, Religion, Habit, Wars, Lives, Customs, &c. of the_
Indians of North America, _and_ of Christanna.

As to the Government and Life of the _Indians_, they live in a kind of
patriarchal Manner, variously diversify'd, not unlike the Tribes and
Families mentioned in the _Old Testament_. Every small Town is a petty
Kingdom govern'd by an absolute _Monarch_, assisted and advised by his
_great Men_, selected out of the gravest, oldest, bravest, and richest;
if I may allow their Dear-Skins, _Peak_ and _Roenoak_ (black and white
Shells with Holes, which they wear on Strings about their Arms and
Necks) to be Wealth.

Sometimes there are general _Emperors_, who have several petty Kingdoms
in some Measure under their Protection and Power.

They dwell in Towns some twenty, some a hundred Miles, and some farther
from one another, each Town having a particular _Jargon_ and peculiar
Customs; though for the most Part they agree in certain Signs,
Expressions, and Manners.

They are frequently at War with all their Neighbours, or most of them,
and treat their Captive Prisoners very barbarously; either by scalping
them (which I have seen) by ripping off the Crown of the Head, which
they wear on a Thong by their Side as a signal Trophee and Token of
Victory and Bravery. Or sometimes they tie their Prisoners, and lead
them bound to their Town, where with the most joyful Solemnity they kill
them, often by thrusting in several Parts of their Bodies scewers of
Light-wood which burn like Torches. The poor Victim all the while (which
is sometimes two or three Days) not shewing the least Symptom of Grief,
nor Sign of Pain, but bearing it with a scornful Sullenness.

In their Rejoicings and Wardances they with the most antick Gestures, in
the most frightful Dre