HISTORY OF ALABAMA CHAPTER II: ABORIGINES OF ALABAMA AND SURROUNDING STATES
HISTORY OF ALABAMA CHAPTER II
The Aborigines of Alabama and the Surrounding States
The Indians of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi were so similar in form, mode of living and general habits, in the time of De Soto and of others who succeeded him in penetrating these wilds, that they will all be treated, on the pages of this chapter, as one people. The color was like that of the Indians of our day. The males were admirably propotioned, athletic, active and graceful in their movements, and possessed open and manly countenances. The females, not inferior in form, were smaller, and many of them beautiful. No ugly or ill-formed Indians were seen, except at the town of Tula, west of the Mississippi. Corpulency was rare; nevertheless, it was excessive in a few instances. In the neighborhood of Apalache, in Florida, the Chief was so fat that he was compelled to move about his house upon his hands and knees.
The dress of the men consisted of a mantle of the size of a common blanket, made of the inner bark of trees, and a species of flax, interwoven. It was thrown over the shoulders, with the right arm exposed. One of these mantles encircled the body of the female, commencing below the breast and extending nearly to the knees, while another was gracefully thrown over the shoulders, also with the right arm exposed. Upon the St. John’s river, the females, although equally advanced in civilization, appeared in a much greater state of nudity — often with no covering in summer, except a moss drapery suspended round the waist, and which hung down in graceful negligence. Both sexes there were, however, adorned with ornaments, consisting of pretty shells and shining pearls, while the better classes wore moccasins and buskins of dressed deer leather.
In Georgia and Alabama the towns contained store-houses, filled with rich and comfortable clothing, such as mantles of hemp, and of feathers of every color, exquisitely arranged, forming admirable cloaks for winter; with a variety of dressed deer skin garments, and skins of the martin, bear and panther, nicely packed away in baskets. Fond of trinkets, the natives collected shells from the seaside, and pearls from the beds of the interior rivers. The latter they pierced with heated copper spindles, and strung them around their legs, necks and arms. The Queen upon the Savannah took
from her neck a magnificent cordon of pearls, and twined it round the neck of the warlike but courteous De Soto. In the interior of the country, pearls were worn in the ears ; but upon the coast, fish bladders, inflated after they had been inserted, were greatly preferred. The Chiefs and their wives, the Prophets and principal men, painted their breasts and the front part of their bodies with a variety of stripes and characters. Others, like sea-faring people, had their skins punctured with bone needles and indelible ink rubbed in, which gave them the appearance of being tattooed. Jean Ortiz, so long a prisoner among the Floridians, when discovered by De Soto, was taken for an Indian, on account of his body being “razed” in this manner.
Renaud de Laudouniere, an admiral of France, made a second voyage to Florida, and landed upon its shore in 1564. Attached to this expedition was a Frenchman, named Jacob Le Moyne. who was an admirable painter. Laudouniere left some soldiers at a Fort which he built upon the St. John’s, and with them this accomplished artist. Le Moyne was frequently despatched with small detachments along the coast, and at some distance in the interior, to make surveys of the rivers and to cultivate the friendship of the natives. During these excursions he made admirable drawings of the Indians, their houses, farms, games, amusements, manners, customs and religious ceremonies. Returning to France, he related his adventures to Charles IX.. and exhibited to him his pictures. These, with his explanatory notes, were published by Theodore de Bry, in 1591, in the Latin language, at Frankfort. The copy in my possession, a most interesting book upon the ancient Indians of Florida and the adjoining States, contains forty-two plates, a few specimens of which are introduced in this volume.
It will be remembered that the Alabamas, upon the Yazoo, painted in stripes of white, yellow, black and red, and “seemed as though they were dressed in hose and doublets.” Lofty plumes of the feathers of the eagle, and other noted birds, adorned the heads of the warriors. At the battle of Vitachuco, in Middle Florida, ten thousand warriors appeared in this magnificent native head-dress. They also punished and deformed themselves in the display of their more peculiar ornaments.
Upon an island in West Florida, they wore reeds thrust through their nipples and under lips. Indian grandees were often seen promenading, of an evening, enveloped in beautiful mantles of deer skins and of the martin, trailing behind them, and often held up by attendants. Among the prettiest ornaments were flat shells, of varied colors, which they suspended from girdles around their waists, and which hung down around their hips.
The bow, the most formidable weapon of the ancient Indians, was long, elastic, and exceedingly strong. The string was made of the sinews of the deer. The arrows, of strong young cane, hardened before the fire, were often tipped with buck horn, and invariably pointed either with palm or other hard wood, flints, long and sharp like a dagger, fish bones shaped like a chisel, or diamond flints. The Spaniards soon ascertained that they pierced as deep as those which they themselves shot from the cross-bow, and were discharged more rapidly. The quiver which held them was made of fawn or some other spotted skin, and was cased at the lower end with thick hide of the bear or alligator. It was always suspended by a leather strap, passing round the neck, which permitted it to rest on the left hip, like a sword. It was capable of holding a great many arrows. Shields were universal appendages in war, and were made either of wood, split canes strongly interwoven, alligator hide, and sometimes that of buffalo. The latter was often the case west of the Mississippi. Of various sizes, but ordinarily large enough to cover the breast, these round shields were painted with rings and stripes, and suspended from the neck by a band. Sometimes a noted Chief protected his breast and a portion of his abdomen with three of them. These, with a piece of bark covering the left arm, to prevent the severe rebound of the bow-string, were all that shielded the natives in time of war. Wooden spears, of the usual length, pointed with excellent darts of fish-bone or flint, were, also, much used. And, strange to say, swords of palm wood, of the proper shape, were often seen. A Chief, in Georgia, seized one of this description, which was borne by one of his servants, and began to cut and thrust with it to the admiration of De Soto and his officers. The war clubs were of two kinds — one, small at the handle, gradually enlarging at the top in oval form; and the other, with two sharp edges at the end, usually employed in executions. Decoration with plumes, appears to have been more common in general costume and pleasure excursions, than in war. In enterprises of the latter character, the natives sought to appear as ferocious as possible. The skins of the eagle, of the wolf and of the panther, with the heads of these animals attached, and well preserved, were worn by warriors, while the talons and claws were inserted as ear ornaments.*
When about to make war, a Chief despatched a party, who approached near the town of the enemy, and by night stuck ar- rows into the cross-paths and public places, with long locks of human hair waving from them.t After this declaration of war, he assembled his men, who, painted and decorated in the most fantastic and frightful manner, surrounded him on all sides. Ex- cited with seeming anger, he rolled his eyes, spoke in guttural
* Le Moyne, plates 11, 12, 13, 14. \ Le Moyne, plate 33.
accents, and often sent forth tremendous war whoops. The war- riors responded in chorus, and struck their weapons against their sides. With a wooden spear he turned himself reverentially to- wards the sun, and implored of that luminary victory over his enemies. Turning to his men, he took water from a 1564 vessel on his right and sprinkled it about, saying, ” Thus may you do with the blood of your enemies.” Then rais- ing another vessel of water, he poured its entire contents on a fire which had been kindled on his left, and repeated, “Thus may you destroy your enemies and bring home their scalps.”* Hav- ing marched his army within the vicinity of the enemy, he bid his prophet to inform him of their number and position, and in what manner it was best to bring on the attack. The old man, usually a hundred years of age, advanced, and a large circle was immediately formed around him. He placed a shield upon the ground, drew a ring around it five feet in diameter, in which he inscribed various characters. Then kneeling on the shield, and sitting on his feet, so as to touch the earth with no part of his body, he made the most horrible grimaces, uttered the most unnatural howls, and distorted his limbs until his very 1564 bones appeared to be flexible. In twenty minutes he ceased his infernal juggling, assumed his natural look, with apparently no fatigue, and gave the Chief the information which he desired. t Some of our ancient natives marched in reg- ular order, with the Chief in the centre, but it was their common habit to scatter in small parties, and take the enemy by surprise. But in the arrangement of their camp, which was always made at sunset, they were exceedingly particular. They then stationed detachments around the Chief, forming a compact and well-ar- ranged defence.t
The women who had lost their husbands in battle, at a con- venient time surrounded the Chief, stooped at his feet, cov-
*Le Moyne, plate 11. t Le Moyne, plate 12. J Le Moyne, plate 14.
ered their faces with their hands, wept, and implored him to be revenged for the death of their companions. They en- treated him to grant them an allowance during their widow- hood, and to permit them to marry again when the time ap- pointed by law expired. They afterwards visited the graves of their husbands and deposited upon them the arms which they used in hunts and wars, and the shells out of which they were accustomed to drink. Having cut off their long hair, they sprinkled it also over their graves, and then returned home. They did not marry until it had attained its ordinary length*
The natives drank a tea, which, in modern times, was called black drink. It was made by boiling the leaves of the cacina plant until a strong decoction was produced. The Chief took his seat, made of nine small poles, in the centre of a semi-circle of seats; but his was the most elevated of all. His principal officers approached him by turns, one at a time, and placing their hands upon the top of their heads, sung ha, he, ya, ha, ha. The whole assembly responded, ha, ha. After which they seated themselves upon his right and left. The women, in the meantime, had pre- pared the black drink, which was served up in conch shells and handed to certain men, who distributed it around. The warriors drank large portions of it, and presently vomited it with great ease. It seemed to have been used at the 1564 early period of 1564, as it is at present, to purify the system, and to tultill a kind of religious rite.f
The punishments of that day were summary and cruel. For a crime deserving death, the criminal was conducted to the square and made to kneel with his body inclined forward. The execu- tioner placed his left foot upon his back, and with a murderous blow with the sharp-sided club, dashed out his brains. % Jean Ortiz and his companions were stripped naked, 1564 and forced to run from corner to corner through the
*Le Moyne, plate 19. t Le Mnyne’s Florida, Plate 29.
+ Le Moyne’ s Florida, plate 32.
G4
town while the exulting savages shot at them by turns with deadly arrows. Ortiz alone survived, and they next proceeded
to roast him upon a wooden gridiron, when he was saved 1539-40 by the entreaties of a noble girl.* Whenever they made prisoners of each other, those who were captured were often put to menial services. To prevent them from running away, it was customary to cut the nerves of their legs just above the instep. t
When a battle was fought, the victors seized upon the enemy mid mutilated their bodies in the most brutal manner. With cane knives the arms and legs were cut around, and then severed from the body by blows upon the bones, from wooden cleavers. They thus amputated with great skill and rapidity. The head was also out around, with these knives, just above the ears, and the whole scalp jerked off. These were then rapidly smoked over a fire, kindled in a small round hole, and borne off in triumph toward home, together with the arms and legs, suspended upon spears. $ The joyous and excited inhabitants now as- 15G4 sembled upon the square and formed a large area, in which these trophies were hung upon high poles. An old Prophet took a position on one side of the circle, held in his hand a small image of a child, and danced and muttered over it a thousand impre- cations upon the enemy. On the other side, and opposite to him, three warriors fell upon their knees. One of them, who was in the middle, constantly brought down a club, with great force, on a smooth si one, placed before him, while the others, on either side of him, rattled gourds rilled with shells and pebbles, all keeping time with the Prophet.§
The houses of the Chiefs, with but few exceptions, stood upon large and elevated artificial mounds. When the Indians of 1540 resolved to build a town, the site of which Avas usually
• Garcellasso <!»• la Vega. i Garcellaaao de la Vega.
t Le Moyne, plate L5. § Le DIoyne, plate 10.
selected upon low, rich land, by the side of a beautiful stream, they were accustomed, first, to turn their attention to the erec- tion of a mound from twenty to fifty feet high, round on the sides, but flat on top. The top was capable of sustaining the houses of the Chief, and those of his family and attendants ; making a little village by itself of from ten to twenty cabins, ele- vated high in the air. The earth to make this mound was brought to the spot. At the foot of this eminence a square was marked out, around which the principal men placed their houses. The inferior classes joined these with their wigwams. Some of these mounds had several stairways to ascend them, made by cutting out incline-planes fifteen or twenty feet wide, flanking the sides with posts, and 1540 laying poles horizontally across the earthen steps — thus forming a kind of wooden stairway. But, generally, the lofty residence of the Chief was approached by only one flight of steps. These mounds were perpendicular, and inaccessible, except by the avenues already mentioned, which rendered the houses upon them secure from the attacks of an Indian enemy. Besides the motive for security, a disposition to place the Chief and his fam- ily in acommanding position, and to raise him above his subjects, caused the formation of these singular elevations.*
Upon the coasts of Florida, the houses were built of timber, covered with palm leaves, and thatched with straw. Those of Toali, between Apalache and the Savannah, and for some dis- tance beyond, were covered with reeds in the manner of tiles, while the walls were extremely neat. In the colder regions of the territories of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, every family possessed a house daubed inside and out with clay, for a winter house, and another, open all around, for summer; while a crib and kitchen, also, stood near by. The houses of the Chiefs, much larger than the others, had piazzas in front, 1540 in the rear of which were cane benches of comfortable
•Garcellasso de la Vega, p. 136.
dimensions. They contained, also, lofts, in which were stored skins, mantles, and corn, the tribute of the subjects .* Upon the head waters of the Coosa, it will be recollected, that De Soto found the house of the Chief standing upon a mound, with a piazza in front, “large enough for six men to prome- enade abreast/ 1 f The town of Ochille, in Middle Florida, contained fifty very substantial houses. The Chief’s house was built in the form of a large pavilion, upwards of one hundred and twenty feet in length by forty in width, with a number of small buildings, connected like offices. t Narvaez found a house large enough to contain three hundred men, in which were fishing nets and a tabor with gold bells. § The In- dian grandeur and spacious dimensions of the houses
1528 of Maubila, in Alabama, have already been described. In the province of Pali se ma, west of the Mississippi, the house of the Chief was covered with deer skins, which were painted with stripes of various colors, and with animals, while the w r alls were hung, and the floor carpeted, witli the same ma- terials. || In the first town which De Soto discovered, at Tampa Bay, was found a large temple, on the top of which was a wooden bird with gilded eyes. IT The Chief, Uceta, made Jean Ortiz keeper of the temple, situated in a lonely forest in the 15:29 outskirts of the town. In this temple were deposited deaa Indians, contained in wooden boxes, the lids of which, having no hinges, were kept down with weights. The bodies and bones were sometimes carried off by panthers and wolves. In this horrible place was poor Ortiz stationed to watch, day and night, and threatened with instant death if he allowed a single body to be taken away. At length, constant anxiety and fatigue overcame him, and one night he fell asleep.
The heavy falling ot a coffin-lid awoke him. In his ter-1529 ror he seized a bow, and running out, heard the crack- ling of bones amid a dark clump of bushes ! He winged
* Portuguese Narrative, p. 701. t Garcellasso do la Vega, p. 294.
t GarceUasBo do la Vega. p. 101. § Herrera, vol. 4.
II Portuguese Narrative. f Portuguese Narrative, p. 701.
a powerful arrow In tbat direction. A scuffle ensued, and then all was still! He moved towards the spot, and found an enor- mous panther, dead, by the side of the body of the child. He re- placed the latter in its box. exultingly dragged the animal into the town, and was from that time respected by the Indians.* Narvaez, upon first Landing in Florida, found a temple in which were chests, each containing a dead body, cov- l. r )’28 ered with painted deer skins. The Commissary, John Xuarez, considering it to be idolatrous, ordered them to be burned. f A remarkable temple was situated in the town of Talomeco, upon the Savannah river, three miles distant from Cutifachiqui, now Silver Bluff. It was more than one hundred feet in length, and forty in width. The walls were high in pro- portion, and the root .steep and covered with mats of split cane, interwoven so compactly that they resembled the rush carpeting of the Moors. (The inhabitants of this part of the country all covered their houses with this matting.) Shells of different sizes, arranged in an Ingenious manner, were placed on the outside of the roof. On the inside, beautiful plumes, shells and pearls were suspended in the form of festoons, from one 1540 to the other, down to the floor. ‘\ ne temple was en- tered by three gates, at each of which were stationed gigantic wooden statues, presenting fierce and menacing attitudes. Some of them were armed with clubs, maces, canoe- paddles, and copper hatchets, and others with drawn bow’s and long pikes. All these implements were ornamented with rings of pearls and bands of copper. Below the ceiling, on four sides of the temple, arranged in niches, were two rows of wooden statues of the natural size — one of men, with pearls suspended from their hands, and the other of women. On the side of the walls were large benches on which sat boxes 1540 containing the deceased Chiefs and their families. Two feet below these were statues of the persons entombed, the space
• GarcellMffO de la Vejra, ]>\>. 274-282. t Herrera, vol.4, p. .’JO.
between them being filled with shields of various sizes, made of strong woven reeds, adorned with pearls and colored tassels. Three rows of chests, full of valuable pearls, occupied the mid- dle of the temple. Deer skins, of a variety of colors, were packed away in chests, together with a large amount of clothing made of the skins of wild cat, martin, and other animals. The temple abounded in the most splendid mantles of feathers. Adjoining was a store-house, divided into eight apartments, which con- tained long pikes of copper, around which rings of pearls were coiled, while clubs, maces, wooden swords, paddles, arrows, quivers, bows, round wooden shields, and those of reed and buf- falo hide, were decorated in like manner* Everywhere upon the route through Alabama and the neighboring States, De Soto found the temples full of human bones. They were held sacred, but sometimes were wantonly violated by tribes at war with each other. On the west bank of the Mississippi, De Soto, joined by the Indian forces of the Chief Casquin, sacked the town of Pacaha. The invading Indians entered the temple, threw down the wooden boxes containing the dead, trampled upon the bodies and bones, and wreaked upon them every insult and indignity. A few days after the Chief of Pacaha and his people came back to the ruined town, and gathering up the scattered bones in mournful silence, kissed and returned them reverentially to their
cofnns.t
The productions of the country were abundant. Peas, beans, squashes, pumpkins and corn grew as if by magic. Per- 1540 simons, formed into large cakes, were eaten in winter, together with walnut and bear’s oil. A small pumpkin, when roasted in the embers, was delightful, and resembled, in taste, boiled chestnuts. Com was pounded in mortars, 1528 but Narvaez saw stones for grinding it upon the Florida coast.t The Indians prepared their fields by digging up the ground with hoes made of fish bone. When the earth was
* Garcellasso de la. Vega, pp. 274-282. f Portuguese Narrative, p. 701. % Herrera, vol. 4, p. 30.
levelled in this manner, others followed with canes, with which they made holes, certain distances apart. The women next came with corn, in baskets, which they dropped in 1564 the holes. The virginity and richness of the soil pro- duced the crop without further labor. [See page 50J. The granaries were sometimes erected in the woods, near navigable streams, and were constructed with stone and dirt, and covered with cane mats. Here were deposited corn, fruits, and all kinds of cured meats, for subsistence during the winter hunts in that part of the country. The universal honesty of 1564 the people was a guarantee that the contents of these granaries would remain undisturbed, until consumed by the owners.
Hunting and fishing occupied much of the time of the na- tives. The hunter threw over his body the skin of a deer, with the head, horns and legs admirably preserved. Round wooden hoops gave the body of the skin its proper shape, inside of which the Indian placed his body. Then, in a stooping posi- tion, so as to allow the feet to touch the ground, he moved along and peeped through the eye-holes of the 1564 deer’s head, all the time having a drawn bow. When near enough to the deer, he let fly a fatal arrow. The deer, in that day, unaccustomed to the noise of fire-arms, were gentle and numerous, and easily killed by a strategem like this.*
At certain periods the Indians were a social people, and in- dulged in large feasts. At other times, they resorted to bow- shooting, ball-plays and dancing.f
The population was much greater when De Soto was in the country than it has been since. Large armies were frequently arrayed against him. In Patofa, Florida, he was even furnished with seven hundred burden bearers. In Ocute, Georgia, he was supplied with two hundred of these indispensable men. At
* Le Moyne’s Florida, plate 25. Bossu’s Travels in Louisiana, vol. 1, p. 259. t Le Moyne, plate 28.
Cafeque, in the same state, tour thousand warriors escorted him, while four thousand more transported the effects L640 ot ‘Ins army. It has been seen what a numerous popu- lation was found in the province of Coosa, and what forces opposed him at Maubila, Chickasa and Alibamo.
The ingenuity of the natives, displayed in the construction of mounds, arms, houses and ornaments, was by no means incon- siderable. At Chaquate, west of the Mississippi, earthenware was manufactured equal to that of Estremosor Montremor.* At Tulla, in Arkansas, salt was made from the deposits formed upon the shores of a lake ; and again, at several saline springs. The salt was made into small cakes, and vended among other tribes for skins and mantles. f The walls which surrounded 1541 the towns, with their towers and terraces, have already been mentioned in the preceding chapter. Entrench- mentS and ditches were also found over the country. The most remarkable of the latter was at Pacha, west of the Mississippi.
Here a large ditch, – wide enough for two canoes to pass abreast Without the paddles touching,” surrounded a walled town. It was out nine miles long, communicated with the Mississippi, sup- plied the natives with lish and afforded them the privileges of navigation.
The construction of canoes and barges, connected with the things which have already been enumerated, affords abundant proof that our aborigines were superior, in some respects, to the tribes who afterwards occupied Alabama, but who were 1641 also ingenious in the manufacture of articles. The Queen of Savannah, borne out of her house in a sedan chair, supported upon the shoulders of four of her principal men, entered a handsome barge which had a tilted top at the 1540 stern under which she took a seat upon soft cushions.
Many principal Indians likewise entered similar barges, and accompanied her to the western side, in the style of a, splcn-
» IWtu.-m-s,. Narrative and (ian-Hlasso. | Portuguese Narrative and (Jarcollas.so.
did water procession. When De Soto first discovered the Mis- sissippi, ;i Chief approached from the oilier side with two hun- dred handsome canoes of great size, tilled with painted and plumed warriors, who stood erect, with bows in their bands, to protect those who paddled. The boats of the Chiefs and princi- pal men had tops — like that of the Georgia Queen — decorated with waving flags and plumes, which floated L641 on the breeze from poles to which they were attached.
They are described by the journalists to have been equal to a beaut it’iil army of ^allies.*
The natives worshipped the sun, and entertained great ven- eration for the moon, and certain stars. Whether they also be- lieved in a Great Spirit is not stated. When the Indian ambas- sadors crossed the Savannah to meet De Soto, they made three profound bows towards the east, intended for the sun; three; to- wards the west, for the moon ; and three; to the Governor.f I ■ p<>n the east bank of the Mississippi, all tin; Indians approached him without uttering a word, and went through precisely the Same ceremony; making, however, to him three bows much less rev- erential than those; made to the sun and moon. On the Other side of that river, Ik; was surrounded by the Chief and his sub- jects. Presently, his Indian majesty sneezed in a loud manner. The subjects bowed their head s, opened and closed their arms, and saluted the Chief with these, words, ” May the sun guard you” — “May the sun be with you” — “May the; sun shim; upon you,” and ” May the sun prosper and defend yoii”:|:
About the first of March, annually, the natives selected 1541 the skin of the largest deer, with the bead and legs at- tached. They filled it with a variety of fruit and grain, and sewed it up again. The bonis were also hung with garlands of fruit. This skin, in all respects resembling a, large buck, was earned by all tin; inhabitants to a plain. There it was placed
• Portuguese Narrative, p. 729. t Oarcellaio <i<- La Vega, p. 2.00.
• ..in iii;, 10 de la Vega, pp. 489-440.
72 HISTORY OF ALABAMA.
upon a high post, and just at the rising of the sun, the In- dians fell down on their knees around it, and implored that bright luminary to grant them, the ensuing season, an abun- dance of fruits and provisions, as good as those contained in theskin of the deer.* This was the practice upon the coast 1564 of East Florida, and, doubtless, it was observed all over the country. It was certainly a very practical mode of asking favors of the sun.
When a Chief or Prophet died upon the St. Johns, he was placed in the ground, and a small mound, of conical form, was erected over him. The base of this mound was surrounded with arrows, stuck in regular order. Some sat, and others kneeled around it, and continued to weep and howl for the space of three nights. Chosen women next visited the mound for a long time, every morning at the break of day, at noon, and at night.t Indeed, great respect appears to have been paid to the Chief when alive, and to him a cruel sacrifice was accus- tomed to be made. The first born male child was always brought out before the Chief, who sat upon a bench on one side of a large circle. Before him was a block, two feet high, and near it stooped the young mother, weeping in great agony. The child was brought forward by a dancing woman, placed upon the block, and a Prophet dashed out its brains with a club; at the same time many females danced, and raised their voices in song. t
If a Chief desired to marry, he was accustomed to send his principal men to select, from the girls of nobility, one of the youngest and most beautiful. Painted with various colors and adorned with shells and pearls, the chosen one was then placedin a sedan chair, the top of which formed an arch of 1561 green boughs. When placed by his side, on an elevated seat, great pomp and ceremony, an array of ornaments
* Le Moyne, plate 35. t Le Moyne, plate 40. t Le Moyne, plate 34.
of all kinds, and music and dancing, characterized the affair, while she and her lord were fanned with beautiful feathers.
The treatment of diseases in that day were few and simple. The doctor sometimes scarified the patient with shells and fishes teeth, and sucked out the blood with his mouth. This he spurted in a bowl, and it was drunk by nursing women who stood by, if the patient was an athletic young man, in order to give their children the same vigor. It was oustomary, also, to smoke the patient with tobacco, and other weeds, until perspiration ensued and re-action was produced.*
* Le Moyne, plate 20.