Their Eyes Are Black, Or Of A Dark Hazle;
The White Is Marbled With Red Streaks, Which Is Ever Common To These People,
Unless When Sprung From A White Father Or Mother.
Their Colour is of a tawny,
which would not be so dark, did they not dawb themselves with Bears Oil,
and a Colour like burnt Cork.
This is begun in their Infancy,
and continued for a long time, which fills the Pores, and enables them better
to endure the Extremity of the Weather. They are never bald on their Heads,
although never so old, which, I believe, proceeds from their Heads
being always uncover'd, and the greasing their Hair (so often as they do)
with Bears Fat, which is a great Nourisher of the Hair, and causes it
to grow very fast. Amongst the Bears Oil (when they intend to be fine)
they mix a certain red Powder, that comes from a Scarlet Root which they get
in the hilly Country, near the Foot of the great Ridge of Mountains,
and it is no where else to be found. They have this Scarlet Root
in great Esteem, and sell it for a very great Price, one to another.
The Reason of its Value is, because they not only go a long way for it,
but are in great Danger of the Sinnagars or Iroquois,
who are mortal Enemies to all our Indians, and very often
take them Captives, or kill them, before they return from this Voyage.
The Tuskeruros and other Indians have often brought this Seed
with them from the Mountains; but it would never grow in our Land.
With this and Bears Grease they anoint their Heads and Temples,
which is esteem'd as ornamental, as sweet Powder to our Hair.
Besides, this Root has the Virtue of killing Lice, and suffers none
to abide or breed in their Heads. For want of this Root,
they sometimes use Pecoon-Root, which is of a Crimson Colour,
but it is apt to die the Hair of an ugly Hue.
Their Eyes are commonly full and manly, and their Gate sedate and majestick.
They never walk backward and forward as we do, nor contemplate
on the Affairs of Loss and Gain; the things which daily perplex us.
They are dexterous and steady both as to their Hands and Feet, to Admiration.
They will walk over deep Brooks, and Creeks, on the smallest Poles,
and that without any Fear or Concern. Nay, an Indian will walk
on the Ridge of a Barn or House and look down the Gable-end,
and spit upon the Ground, as unconcern'd, as if he was walking
on Terra firma. In Running, Leaping, or any such other Exercise,
their Legs seldom miscarry, and give them a Fall; and as for letting
any thing fall out of their Hands, I never yet knew one Example.
They are no Inventers of any Arts or Trades worthy mention;
the Reason of which I take to be, that they are not possess'd
with that Care and Thoughtfulness, how to provide for the Necessaries of Life,
as the Europeans are; yet they will learn any thing very soon.
I have known an Indian stock Guns better than most of our Joiners,
although he never saw one stock'd before; and besides, his Working-Tool
was only a sorry Knife.
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