d prepare to dress their meal. They begin by throwing the fish
exactly in the state in which it came from the water, on the fire. When it
has become a little warmed they take it off, rub away the scales, and then
peal off with their teeth the surface, which they find done and eat. Now,
and not before, they gut it; but if the fish be a mullet or any other which
has a fatty substance about the intestines, they carefully guard that part
and esteem it a delicacy. The cooking is now completed by the remaining
part being laid on the fire until it be sufficiently done. A bird, a
lizard, a rat, or any other animal, they treat in the same manner. The
feathers of the one and the fur of the other, they thus get rid of.*

[*They broil indiscriminately all substances which they eat. Though they
boil water in small quantities in oyster shells for particular purposes,
they never conceived it possible until shown by us, to dress meat by this
method, having no vessel capable of containing a fish or a bird which would
stand fire. Two of them once stole twelve pounds of rice and carried it
off. They knew how we cooked it, and by way of putting it in practice they
spread the rice on the ground before a fire, and as it grew hot continued
to throw water on it. Their ingenuity was however very ill rewarded, for
the rice became so mingled with the dirt and sand on which it was laid,
that even they could not eat it, and the whole was spoiled.]

Unless summoned away by irresistable necessity, sleep always follows the
repast. They would gladly prolong it until the following day; but the
canoe wants repair, the fish-gig must be barbed afresh, new lines must be
twisted, and new hooks chopped out. They depart to their respective tasks,
which end only with the light.

Such is the general life of an Indian. But even he has his hours of
relaxation, in seasons of success, when fish abounds. Wanton with plenty,
he now meditates an attack upon the chastity of some neighbouring fair one;
and watching his opportunity he seizes her and drags her away to complete
his purpose. The signal of war is lighted; her lover, her father, her
brothers, her tribe, assemble, and vow revenge on the spoiler. He tells
his story to his tribe. They judge the case to be a common one and agree to
support him. Battle ensues; they discharge their spears at each other, and
legs and arms are transpierced. When the spears are expended the combatants
close and every species of violenc