to 1675. Indian pop. New-England. For the numbers of the Abenaques warriors A. D. 1615, were probably equal or superior to those of the Narragansetts, Whole viz. 5,000; and the Etechemin warriors, must now have been amount of about 6,000;—in all 11,000.* By allowing, then, three of ulation in them to ten souls, as in the Powhatan confederacy, the original population of Maine, A. D. 1615, must have been 36 or 37,000; -an estimation probably not very wide of the truth.† Maine. Sokokis But one account, (9 Coll. Mass. Hist. p. 234,) supposes the eastern Indians from Massachusetts to Canso, in 1690, only 4,310 souls ;-an estimate manifestly too low. Also there were Indians at Agamenticus, Casco, and Machias. A. D. 1615, to 1675. Persons of the ludians. Their seuses. CHAPTER XIX. Their dress-Character The persons of the natives-- Their senses― Marriages-Religion and Superstition—Christianity among them oners-Their Wampan-Their Fasts-An Entertainment— In the subsequent consideration of the natives, their appearance, character, regulations, habits, language, and other peculiarities, our observations will be confined, in general, to the Abenaques and the Etechemins, with occasional allusions to the Mickmaks. The Indian is easily distinguishable from the inhabitant of every other country. His stature is above a middling size, his body strong and straight, and his features regular and prominent. But his broad face, black sparkling eyes, bright olive complexion, ivory-white teeth, black hair, long and lank, often give to his countenance an appearance, wild, fierce and morose. A deformed, cross-eyed person, or dwarf, is not found among them; nor are any of the men corpulent. In walking, both sexes incline their feet inwards, by means of a discipline during infancy, enabling them more conveniently to traverse the woods. By reason of an unction, with which they anoint their bodies, to avoid the trouble of flies and vermin, or owing to some other cause, the beards upon the men in general have no considerable growth.* With senses acute and perceptions quick and clear, the Indian is all eyes, all cars, and all observation ;-nothing escapes his notice. None are blind, deaf, or dumb; and his impressions of * Smith, in his History, p. 17, says they had no beards :-But several of the Tarratines have told me, they pull out their beards when young. to 1675. men or places, are coeval with life. He will travel unfrequented A.D. 1615, forests without compass or mistake. The Mickmaks, in their wars with the Esquimaux, have been known to cross, in their slender canoes, the gulf of St. Lawrence, 40 leagues over.* Their health. The savage state promotes bodily exercise, inures to hardships, Ti and preserves from the maladies incident to civilized life. Few are sickly or feeble. Many live to a great age, possessing their energies and faculties to the last. Orono, Sagamore of the Tarratines, who died, A. D. 1801, lived to the advanced age of 113 years; and his wife at the time of her death, the preceding year, was aged 100. and fashions. The dress and ornaments of the males and females are a cu- Their dress riosity. With a taste for bright or lively colors, their clothes are gay, often changed in kind, never in fashion. When our shores were first visited by de Monts, Gosnold, Smith, and others; the natives were clad in skins, without the fur in summer and with it in winter. Some wore mantles of deer-skins, embroidered with chains of beads, and variously painted; and those of others were curiously inwrought and woven with threads and feathers, in a manner exhibiting only the plumage. The poorer sort appeared with nothing more than hard skins about their loins and shoulders; and a few, in the warm seasons, wore little else than the robe of nature.† In their present fashions, or forms, they wear a woollen cap, or bonnet, cut diagonally and made of a conic shape, enclosing the ears, and terminating behind upon the neck. Next to the skin, both sexes wear a cotton or a linen under-shirt, extending down the third of an ell over the short drawers of the one, and the narrow petticoat of the other-severally begirt about the loins. The coats of the men, sewed at the folds, or sides, are lapped over in front and kept together by a belt, without any buttons, and reach below the knee; and the tunic, or vest of the women is pinned before, also their petticoat, though very narrow, falls some lower. The stockings they both wear, are never knit, but usually made of blue cloth, sewed with selvedges on the outer sides, and extend over the knee. Though shoes can be con * Jeffreys, p. 94. Oldmixon, p. 15, 23, 24.-H. Trumbull's Indian Wars, p. 91.-Indian Wars, (anon.) p. 229. to 1675, A. D. 1615, veniently obtained, they prefer moccasins, and usually wear them. None of the females ever cut a hair from their heads, but club or cue the whole; whereas the males shave off all, except a single lock about the crown, that it may not be starved,' to use their own language, 'by the growth of the rest.'† Their orna ments. * The natives are excessively fond of ornaments, plumes, and finery; as if gaudy brightness and beauty could vie for the palm with genuine taste and refinement. Whatever glitters, captivates. Both sexes, especially the females, adorn their fingers with gold rings; their necks with wampam or silver collars; their arms with clasps; their bosoms with brooches, or pendants; their ears with jewels-all of the brightest silver. Among the more wealthy, the men, when appearing in their best, wear long sashes and the women broad scarfs over their shoulders, covered with brooches of the same precious metal; and some have tinsel or silver hatbands :-For many of both sexes now wear men's hats instead of the ancient caps. The maidens in their fondness for brilliant colors, and for ribbons and plumes which are gay, discover a wild unripe taste; though by some, the English daughters of fashion *2 Belk. Biog. p. 102. Present State of Nova Scotia, p. 50.--Jolin de Laet says, 'four leagues north from Kennebeck, following the direction of the coast, there is a bay containing in its bosom a large number of Islands, and near its entrance, one of them is called by the French navigators, the Island of Bacchus, from the great abundance of vines found growing there. The barbarians that inhabit here, are in some respects unlike the other aborigines of NewFrance--differing somewhat from them both in language and manners. They shave their heads from the forehead to the crown; but suffer their hair to grow on the back side, confining it in knots and interweaving feathers of various plumage. They paint their faces red or black; are well formed; and arm themselves with spears, clubs, bows and arrows, which, for want of iron, they point with the tail of a crustaceous creature called signoc. They cultivate the soil in a different manner from the savages, that live east of them; planting maize [Indian corn] and beans together; so that the stalks of the former, answer the purpose of poles for the vines to run upon. Their fields are enclosed. They plant in May, and harvest in September. Walnut trees grow here, but inferior to ours. Vines are abundant; and it is said by the French, that the grapes gathered in July, make good wine. The natives, also, raise pumpkins and tobacco. They have permanent places of abode; their cabins are covered with oak bark, and are defended by palisadoes.'-2 Lib. de Laet, chap. 19.—Novus Or BIS. * to 1675. are the enviable patterns of their imitation.* When Aitteon and A. D. 1615, Neptune were inaugurated chiefs, the Tarratine females were attired in their best, wearing rich silks, tinsel fillets and all their ornaments-seldom, if ever appearing better dressed. pearance. The military appearance of the men is both singular and war- Military ap like. On their breasts, they wear glittering medals of copper or silver; in their ears and sometimes their noses, pendant jewels; and about their heads, turbans of waving feathers. With red pigment, they paint their faces, in a variety of ways, which make their appearance, according to design, truly terrific. acter. All our Indians have a peculiar cast of character. Among Their charthemselves, every right and possession is safe. No locks, no bars are necessary to guard them. In trade they are fair and honest;† astonished at the crimes which white men commit, to accumulate property. Their lips utter no falsehoods to each other, and the injuries done an individual, they make a common cause of resentment. Such is an Indian's hospitality, that if an unarmed stranger comes among them and asks protection, he is sure to find it. If cold, he is warmed; if naked, clothed; if hungry, fed with the best the camp affords. They are faithful and ardent in friendship, and grateful for favors, which are never obliterated from their memories. Ordinarily possessing great patience and equanimity of mind, the men bear misfortunes with perfect composure, giving proofs of cheerfulness amidst the most untoward incidents. With a glow of ardor for each other's welfare, and the good of their country; all offer voluntary services to the public; all burn with the sacred flame of patriotism; and all most heartily celebrate the heroic deeds of their ancestors. The point of honor is every thing in their view. Sensibility in their hearts is a spark which instantly kindles. An injury, a taunt, or even a neglect, will arouse all the resentments of their untutored minds, and urge them on to acts of fatal revenge. An Indian is a being, grave and taciturn. He seldom laughs; he *«I'll shape like theirs my simple dress, "A bonnet like an English maid.—English Mary. But they are bad paymasters;-being regardless of their promises. Many who have trusted them, have sustained total losses of their debts. |