g himself about his neck." Truly, we
can scarcely be surprised that the early settlers looked with suspicion
on men who wore such unchristian-like ornaments, and that they more than
suspected them to be in league with "the old serpent." A full description
is given of their modes of hunting and fishing; and also of their
amusements,--especially their dances, which resemble those of "frantique
and disquieted bachanalls." The writer was not able to obtain much
information as to their religion. From some scattered hints, it seems to
have resembled the Mexican, both in the human sacrifices and in the
secrecy attending them. They also used a sort of embalming for their
kings, whose bodies were kept in one of their temples.

Their principal temple "is at Vtamussack, proper to Powhatan, upon the
top of certaine red sandy hills; and it is accompanied by two others
sixty feet in length, filled with images of their kings and deviles, and
tombes of the predecessors. This place they count so holy as that none
but the priests and kings dare come therein." They are not observed to
keep any specific days of devotion; but from time to time the whole
population assemble "to make a great fier in the house or fields, and all
to sing and daunce about yt, in a ring like so many fayries, with rattles
and showtes." This points to an eastern source: so does the following:

"They have also divers conjurations: one they made at what tyme they had
taken Captain Smyth prisoner, to know, as they reported, if any more of
his countrymen would arrive there, and what they intended; the manner of
yt Captain Smyth observed to be as followeth: first, soe sone as daie was
shut in, they kindled a faire great fier in a lone howse, about which
assembled seven priests, takinge Captain Smyth by the hand, and
appointing him his seat; about the fier they made a kynd of enchanted
circle of meale; that done, the chiefest priest, attyred as is expressed,
gravely began to sing and shake his rattle, solemly rownding and marching
about the fier, the rest followed him silently untill his song was done,
which they all shutt up with a groane. At the end of the first song the
chief priest layd downe certaine graines of wheat, and so continuyed
howling and invoking their okeus to stand firme and powerful to them in
divers varieties of songs, still counting the songs by their graynes,
untill they had circled the fier three tymes, then they devided the
graynes by certaine numb