Deceased, and laid them in
the Graves, with all the Cloths, Skins and Nicknacks of the Dead: Then
they covered the Body hollow with Sticks, and flung in the Earth with
mournful Noise; so the Bodies lay as in Coffins.

The Priest or Physician in curing the Wounded, made an hideous Noise,
singing certain Charms, with particular Actions and Forms of
Incantation, to which he ascribed the Cure, tho' I believe this is done
only to blind the common _Indians_; for I observed he did not begin his
Operation, till he had been in the Woods. Then he shut us all out for an
Hour, and when we were readmitted, I perceived he had been using certain
Roots and Herbs that I knew not.

Upon Enquiry, we have from them these their Notions of the State of the
Dead.

They believe that they go to _Mohomny_ that lives beyond the Sun, if
they have not been Wicked, nor like Dogs nor Wolves, that is, not
unchast, then they believe that _Mohomny_ sends them to a plentiful
Country abounding with Fish, Flesh and Fowls, the best of their Kind,
and easy to be caught; but if they have been naughty, then he sends them
to a poor barren Country, where be many Wolves and Bears, with a few
nimble Deer, swift Fish and Fowls, difficult to be taken; and when
killed, being scarce any thing but Skin and Bones.

They allow Polygamy, if the Man can maintain his Family, as I have been
informed.

They punish Adultery in a Woman by cutting off her Hair, which they fix
upon a long Pole without the Town; which is such a Disgrace that the
Party is obliged to fly, and becomes a Victim to some Enemy, a Slave to
some Rover, or perishes in the Woods.

They have certain _Hieroglyphical_ Methods of characterizing Things; an
Instance of which I have seen upon the Side of a Tree where the Bark was
taken off.

There was drawn something like a Deer and a River, with certain Strokes
and Dashes; the Deer looking down the River, which we interpreted to be
left for Information to some of their stragling Company, that certain of
them were gone down that River a Hunting, and others were gone different
Ways.

I know by the Boys at the College, that they have an excellent _Genius_
for Drawing; and I fancy by Art they might be made some of the best
Masters of Painting and Limning, to which they seem naturally inclined.

They hate Injury and Oppression; and I have been told they have some
capital Punishments.

Besides the _French_, the _Traders_ of some Companies and Countries
o