e parts were
known to the English; but in what this language may differ from that of
the Algonkines, I am not able to determine.

CHAPTER VII.

OF THE WAR, AND PEACE OF THE INDIANS.

Sec. 24. When they are about to undertake any war or other solemn
enterprise, the king summons a convention of his great men to assist at
a grand council, which, in their language, is called a Matchacomoco. At
these assemblies, 'tis the custom, especially when a war is expected,
for the young men to paint themselves irregularly with black, red,
white, and several other motley colors, making one-half of their face
red, (for instance,) and the other black or white, with great circles of
a different hue round their eyes, with monstrous mustaches, and a
thousand fantastical figures, all over the rest of their body; and to
make themselves appear yet more ugly and frightful, they strew feathers,
down, or the hair of beasts upon the paint while it is still moist and
capable of making those light substances stick fast on. When they are
thus formidably equipped, they rush into the Matchacomoco, and instantly
begin some very grotesque dance, holding their arrows or tomahawks in
their hands, and all the while singing the ancient glories of their
nation, and especially of their own families--threatening and making
signs with their tomahawk what a dreadful havoc they intend to make
amongst their enemies.

Notwithstanding these terrible airs they give themselves, they are very
timorous when they come to action, and rarely perform any open or bold
feats; but the execution they do, is chiefly by surprise and ambuscade.

Sec. 25. The fearfulness of their nature makes them very jealous and
implacable. Hence it is, that when they get a victory, they destroy
man, woman and child, to prevent all future resentments.

Sec. 26. I can't think it anything but their jealousy that makes them
exclude the lineal issue from succeeding immediately to the crown. Thus,
if a king have several legitimate children, the crown does not descend
in a direct line to his children, but to his brother by the same mother,
if he have any, and for want of such, to the children of his eldest
sister, always respecting the descent by the female, as the surer side.
But the crown goes to the male heir (if any be) in equal degree, and for
want of such, to the female, preferably to any male that is more
distant.

Sec. 27. As in the beginning of a war, they have assemblies for
c