# Life and astonishing adventures of Peter Williamson (1)

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THE
LIFE AND
⟨ASTONISHING⟩ ADVENTURES
OF
PETER WILLIAMSON,
⟨WHO⟩ WAS CARRIED OFF WHEN A CHILD FROM ABERDEEN AND SOLD FOR A SLAVE.
GLASGOW:
⟨PRINTED⟩ FOR THE BOOKSELLERS.
THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
PETER WILLIAMSON.
Was born in the parish of Aboyne, Aberdeen ⟨shire⟩, of respectable parents, who sent me very ⟨early⟩ to live with an aunt at Aberdeen; when, ⟨under⟩ the years of pupillarity, one playing on ⟨the⟩ quay with others of my companions—being ⟨of⟩ a stout robust constitution—I was taken notice ⟨of⟩ by two fellows belonging to a vessel in the ⟨harbour⟩, employed, in the trade called kidnapping; that is stealing young children from their ⟨parents⟩, and selling them as slaves in plantations ⟨abroad⟩. Being market out by those monsters of piety as their prey, I was cajoled on board the ⟨ship⟩ by them, where I was no sooner got, than ⟨they⟩ conducted me between the decks to some ⟨others⟩ they had kidnapped in the same manner.
⟨At⟩ that time, I had no sense of the fate that was ⟨destined⟩ for me, and spent the time in childish ​amusements with my fellow-sufferers in the steerage, being never suffered to go upon deck ⟨while⟩ the vessel lay in the harbour.
In about a month's time the ship set sail ⟨for⟩ America. I cannot forget that, when we ⟨arrived⟩ on the coast we were destined for, a hard gale wind sprung up from the S. E. and, to the captain's great surprise (he not thinking he was ⟨near⟩ land, although having been 11 weeks on the ⟨passage⟩, about twelve o’clock at night, the ⟨ship⟩ struck on a sand hank off Cape May, near ⟨the⟩ Capes of Delaware, and, to the great terror ⟨and⟩ affright of the ship’s company, in a short ⟨time⟩ was almost full of water. The boat was ⟨then⟩ hoisted out, into which the captain and his ⟨fellow⟩ villians, the erew, got with some ⟨difficulty⟩ leaving me and my deluded companions to ⟨perish⟩ as they then naturally concluded inevitable ⟨death⟩ to be our fate. Often, in my distresses ⟨and⟩ miseries since, have I wished that such had ⟨been⟩ the consequence, when in a state of ⟨innocence.⟩ But Providence thought proper to reserve ⟨me⟩ for future trials of its goodness. Thus ⟨abandoned⟩ and deserted, without the least prospect of ⟨relief⟩ but threatened every moment with death, ⟨did⟩ these villians leave us. The eries, the ⟨shrieks⟩ and tears of a parcel of infants, had no effect ⟨on⟩ or caused the least remorse in the breasts of the merciless wretches. Scarce can I say to ⟨which⟩ ​give the preference, whether to such as these, ⟨who⟩ have had the opportunity of knowing the ⟨Christian⟩ religion; or to the savages herein after ⟨described⟩, who profane not the gospel, or boast humanity; and if they act in a more brutal and (illegible text) manner, yet it is to their enemies, for sake of plunder and the rewards offered them their principles are alike—the love of sordid ⟨sin⟩ being both their motives. The ship being a sand bank, which did not-give way to let deeper, we lay in the same deplorable condition until morning, when, though we saw the ⟨land⟩ of Cape May, at about a mile’s distance, we ⟨knew⟩ not what would be our fate.
⟨The⟩ wind at length abated, and the captain, ⟨unwilling⟩ to lose all her cargo, about ten o’clock, some of his crew in a boat to the ship’s side ⟨bearing⟩ us on shore, where we lay in a sort of a ⟨heap⟩, made of the sails of the vessel, and such ⟨other⟩ things as we could get. The provisions ⟨lasted⟩ us until we were taken in by a vessel bound Philadelphia, lying on this island, as well as ⟨I can⟩ recollect, near three weeks. Very little ⟨of the⟩ cargo was saved undamaged, and the vessel was entirely lost.
When arrived and landed at Philadelphia, the ⟨capital⟩ of Pennsylvania, the captain had people (illegible text)gh who came to buy us. He, sold us at ⟨about £16⟩ per head. What became of my ​unhappy companions, I never knew; it was my (illegible text) to be sold to one of my countrymen, whose ⟨name⟩ was Hugh Wilson, a North Britain, who ⟨had in⟩ his youth undergone the same fate as ⟨myself⟩ having been kidnapped from St. Johnstown, Scotland.
Happy was my lot in falling into my countryman's power, as he was, eontrary to many ⟨others⟩ of his calling, a humane, worthy, honest ⟨man.⟩ Having no children of his own, and commiserating my unhappy condition, he took great ⟨care⟩ of mc until I was fit for business, and, about ⟨the⟩ 12th year of my age, set me about little ⟨trifles⟩ in which state I continued until my 14th ⟨year⟩ when I was more fit for harder work. ⟨During⟩ sueh my idle state, seeing my fellow-servants ⟨often⟩ reading and writing, it ineited in me an inelination to learn, which I intimated to my master, telling him I should be very willing to ⟨serve⟩ a year longer than the contract by which I ⟨was⟩ sold, if he would indulge me in going to ⟨school;⟩ this he readily agreed to, saying that winter ⟨would⟩ be the best time. It being then summer ⟨I⟩ waited with impatience for the other season; b(illegible text) to make some progress in my design, I ⟨got a⟩ Primer, and learned as much from my ⟨fellow⟩ servants as I could. At school, where I ⟨went⟩ every winter for five years, I made a ⟨tolerable⟩ proficiency, and have ever since been ⟨improving⟩ ​⟨myself⟩ at leisure hours. With this good master ⟨I⟩ continued till I was seventeen years old, when ⟨he⟩ died; and, as a reward for my faithful service, ⟨he⟩ left me £200 currency, which was then about 150 sterling, his best horse, saddle, and all his (illegible text)caring apparel.
Being now my own master, having money in ⟨my⟩ pocket, and all other necessaries, I employed ⟨myself⟩ in jobbing about the country, working for ⟨any⟩ one that would employ me, for near seven ⟨years⟩, when, thinking I had money sufficient to ⟨allow⟩ some better way of life, I resolved to settle, but thought one step necessary thereto was ⟨to⟩ be married; for which purpose I applied to ⟨the⟩ daughter of a substantial planter, and found ⟨my⟩ suit was not unacceptable to her or her father, ⟨so⟩ that matters were soon concluded upon, and ⟨we⟩ married. My father-in-law, in order to establish us in the world in an easy, if not affluent manner, made me a deed of gift of a tract of land, ⟨that⟩ lay, unhappily for me, as it has since proved, ⟨on⟩ the frontiers of the province of Pennsylvania, ⟨near⟩ the forks of Delaware, in Berks County, ⟨containing⟩ about 200 acres; 30 of which were well cleared, and fit for immediate use, whereon was a good house and barn. The place pleasing me well, I settled on it, though it cost me the major part of my money in buying stock, household furniture, and implements for out-door work; ​and happy as I was in a good wife, yet did ⟨my⟩ felicity last me not long; for about the year 1754, the Indians in the French Interest, who had ⟨for⟩ a long time before ravaged and destroyed ⟨other⟩ parts of America unmolested, I may very properly say, began to be very troublesome on ⟨the⟩ frontiers of our province, where they ⟨generally⟩ appeared in small skulking parties, with yellings, shoutings, and antic postures, instead of trumpets and drums, committing great devastations. ⟨The⟩ Pennsylvanians little imagined at first that ⟨the⟩ Indians, guilty of such outrages and violence were some of those who pretended to be in ⟨the⟩ English interest; which, alas! proved to be too true to many of us; for, like the French in Europe, without regard to faith or treaties, they suddenly break out into furious, rapid outrages and devastations, but soon retire precipitately having no stores nor provisions but what they meet with in their incursions. Some ⟨indeed⟩ carry a bag with biscuit or Indian corn therein but not unless they have a long march to their destined place of action. And those French who were sent to dispossess us in that part of the world, being indefatigable in their duty, and continually contriving and using all manner of ways and means to win the Indians to their interest, many of whom had been too negligent, and sometimes, I may say, cruelly treated by those who ​⟨pretend⟩ to be their protectors and friends, found ⟨it⟩ no very difficult matter to get over to their ⟨interest⟩ many who belonged to those nations in ⟨enmity⟩ with us, especially as the rewards they ⟨gave⟩ them were so great, they paying for every ⟨scalp⟩ of an English person £15 sterling.
Shocking to human nature were the barbarities daily committed by the savages, and are not ⟨to⟩ be paralleled in all the volumes of history! ⟨scarce⟩ did a day pass but some unhappy family ⟨or⟩ other fell victims to savage cruelty. Terrible ⟨indeed⟩ it proved to me, as well as to many others; that was now happy in an easy state of life, ⟨blessed⟩ with an affectionate and tender wife, who ⟨was⟩ possessed of all amiable qualities, to enable ⟨me⟩ to go through the world with that peace and ⟨serenity⟩ of mind which every Christian wishes to ⟨possess⟩, became on a sudden one of the most unhappy and deplorable of mankind. Scarce can ⟨I⟩ sustain the shock which for ever recoils on me, thinking on the last time of seeing that good ⟨woman⟩. The fatal 2d of October, 1754, she ⟨that⟩ day went from home to visit some of her relations. As I staid up later than usual, expecting her return, none being in the house besides ⟨myself⟩, how great was my surprise, terror, and fright, when, about 11 o'clock at night, I heard ⟨the⟩ dismal war-cry, or war-whoop of the savages, ⟨and⟩ to my inexpressible grief, soon found my ​house was attacted by them. I flew to my chamber window, and perceived them to be twelve in number. They making several attempts to get in, I asked them what they wanted. They gave me no answer, but continued beating, and trying to get the door opened. Judge, then, the condition I must be in, knowing the cruelty and merciless disposition of those savages, should ⟨I⟩ fall into their hands. To escape which ⟨dreadful⟩ misfortune, having my gun loaded in my hand I threatened them with death if they should ⟨not⟩ desist. But how vain and fruitless are the efforts of one man against the united force of so many and of such merciless, undaunted, and blood thirsty monsters as I had here to deal with. One of them that could speak a little English, threatened me in return, that, if I did not come out they would burn me alive in the house—telling me farther, that they were no friends to the English; but if I would come out and surrender myself prisoner, they would not kill me. My terror and distraction at hearing this is not to ⟨be⟩ expressed by words, nor easily imagined by any person, unless in the same condition. Little could I depend on the promises of such creatures and yet, if I did not, inevitable death, by being burnt alive, must me my lot. Distracted as ⟨I⟩ was, in such deplorable circumstances, I chose to rely on the uncertainty of their fallacious ⟨promise,⟩ ​rather than meet with certain death, by rejecting them; and, accordingly, went out of my ⟨house⟩ with my gun in my hand, not knowing ⟨what⟩ I did, or that I had it. Immediately on ⟨my⟩ approach, they rushed on me like so many (illegible text)ers, and instantly disarmed me. Having me ⟨thus⟩ in their power, the merciless villians bound ⟨me⟩ to a tree near the door; they then went into ⟨the house⟩, and plundered and destroyed every ⟨thing⟩, carrying off what moveables they could; ⟨the⟩ rest, together with the house, they set fire and consumed before my eyes. The barbarians not satisfied with this, set fire to my barn, ⟨stable⟩, and out-houses, wherein were about 200 ⟨bushels⟩ of wheat, six cows, four horses, and five ⟨sheep⟩, which were entirely consumed to ashes, ⟨During⟩ the eonflagration to describe the thoughts, ⟨the⟩ fears, and misery that I felt, is utterly impossible, after this, they untied me, and gave me ⟨a⟩ great load to carry on my back, under which I ⟨travelled⟩ all that night with them, full of the ⟨most⟩ terrible apprehensions, and oppressed with ⟨the⟩ greatest anxiety of mind, lest my unhappy ⟨life⟩ should likewise have fallen a prey to those ⟨cruel⟩ monsters. At day-break, my infernal ⟨masters⟩ ordered me to lay down my load, when, tied my hands again round a tree with a small (illegible text)d, they then forced the blood out of my ⟨finger-ends⟩. They then kindled a fire near the ​tree whereto I was bound, which filled me with dreadful agonies, eoneluding I was going to be made a saerifiee to their barbarity.
The fire being thus made, they for some time daneed round me after their manner, with various odd motions and antic gestures, whooping, halloeing, and erying in a frightful manner, as it is their eustom. Having satisfied themselves in this sort of their mirth, they proceeded in a more tragical manner, taking the burning ⟨coals⟩ and stieks, flaming with fire at the ends, holding them near my faee, head, hands, and feet, with a deal of monstrous pleasure and satisfaetion, and at she same time threatening to burn me entirely if I made the least noise or motion of my body. Thus tortured, as I was, almost to death, suffered their brutal pleasure without being allowed to vent my inexpressible anguish ⟨otherwise⟩ than by shedding tears; even which, when ⟨these⟩ inhuman tormentors observed, with a ⟨shocking⟩ pleasure and alacrity, they would take fresh eoal and apply near my eyes, telling me my faee ⟨was⟩ wet, and that they would dry it for me. How ⟨I⟩ suffered these tortures, I have here faintly described, has been matter of wonder to me ⟨many⟩ times; but God enabled me to wait with ⟨more⟩ than common patience for a deliverance I ⟨daily⟩ prayed for.
Having at length satisfied their brutal ⟨pleasure⟩ ​⟨they⟩ sat round the fire and roasted their meat of ⟨which⟩ they had robbed my dwelling. When ⟨they⟩ had prepared it, and satisfied their voracious ⟨appetites⟩, they offered some to me; though it is ⟨easily⟩ imagined I had but little appetite to eat, ⟨under⟩ the tortures and miseries I had undergone, ⟨but⟩ was I foreed to seem pleased with what they (illegible text)ered me, lest, by refusing it, they had again ⟨resumed⟩ their hellish praetiees. What I could ⟨not⟩ eat, I contrived to get between the bark and ⟨the⟩ tree where I was fixed, they having unbound ⟨my⟩ hands until they imagined I had eat all they ⟨gave⟩ me; but then they again bound me as ⟨before,⟩ in which deplorable condition was I foreed ⟨to⟩ continue all that day. When the sun was set, ⟨they⟩ put out the fire, and covered the ashes with ⟨leaves⟩, as is their usual custom, that the white ⟨people⟩ might not discover any traees or signs of ⟨their⟩ having been there.
Going from thence along by the river, for the ⟨distance⟩ of six miles, loaded as I was before, we arrived at a spot near the Apalachian mountains, ⟨where⟩ they hid their plunder under logs of wood; (illegible text) Oh, shocking to relate! from thence did these ⟨ghoulish⟩ monsters proceed to a neighbouring house, ⟨occupied⟩ by one Joseph Snider and his unhappy ⟨family⟩, consisting of his wife, five children, and ⟨a young man⟩, his servant. They soon got ⟨admittance⟩ into the unfortunate man's house, where ​they immediately, without the least remorse, ⟨and⟩ with more than brutal cruelty, scalped the tender parents and the unhappy children; nor ⟨could⟩ the tears, the shrieks, or cries of these ⟨unhappy⟩ victims prevent their horrid massacre; for ⟨having⟩ thus scalped them, and plundered the house ⟨of⟩ every thing that was moveable, they set fire ⟨to⟩ the same, where the poor creatures met ⟨their⟩ final doom amidst the flames, the hellish miscreants standing at the door, or as near the ⟨house⟩ as the flames would permit them, rejoicing ⟨and⟩ echoing back, in their diabolical manner, ⟨the⟩ piercing cries, heart-rending groans, and paternal and affectionate soothings, which issued from this most horrid sacrifice of an innocent family, not contented with what they had already ⟨done⟩ they still continued their inordinate villiany, ⟨in⟩ making a general conflagration of the barn ⟨and⟩ stables, together with all the corn, horses, ⟨cows⟩ and every thing on the place.
Thinking the young man belonging to ⟨the⟩ unhappy family would be of some service to ⟨them⟩ in carrying part of their plunder, they spared ⟨his⟩ life, and loaded him and myself with what ⟨they⟩ had here got, and again marched to the ⟨Black⟩ Hills, where they stowed their goods as ⟨before.⟩ My fellow-sufferer could not long bear the ⟨cruel⟩ treatment which we were both obliged to ⟨suffer⟩ and complaining bitterly to me of being ⟨unable⟩ ​proceed any farther, I endeavoured to condole ⟨him⟩ as much as lay in my power, to bear up ⟨under⟩ his afflietions, and wait with patienee till, by ⟨some⟩ divine assistance, we should be delivered out their clutehes; but in vain, for he still ⟨continued⟩ his moans and tears, which one of the ⟨savages⟩ perceiving as we travelled on, instantly eame to us, and with his tomahawk gave him a ⟨blow⟩ on the head, which felled the unhappy youth ⟨to⟩ the ground, where they immediately sealped ⟨and⟩ left him. The suddenness of this murder ⟨shocked⟩ me to that degree, that I was in a ⟨manner⟩ like a statue, being quite motionless, ⟨expecting⟩ my fate would soon be the same; however, ⟨recovering⟩ my distracted thoughts, I dissembled ⟨the⟩ uneasiness and anguish which I felt, as well ⟨as⟩ I could, from the barbarians; but such was ⟨the⟩ terror that I was under, that for some time I ⟨scarce⟩ knew the days of the week, or what I did, that, at this period, life indeed became a ⟨burden⟩ to me, and I regretted being saved from my (illegible text)t perseeutors, the sailors.
The horrid faet being eompleted, they kept on ⟨their⟩ course near the mountains, where they lay ⟨stalking⟩ four or five days, rejoicing at the ⟨plunder⟩ and store they had got. When provisions ⟨became⟩ searce, they made their way towards (illegible text)quehana, where still, to add to the many ⟨barbarities⟩ they had already committed, passing near ​another house inhabited by an unhappy old man whose name was John Adams, with his wife and four small children; and, meeting with no resistance, they immediately sealped the unhappy ⟨wife⟩ and her four ehildren, before the good old ⟨man's⟩ eyes. Inhuman and horrid as this was, it ⟨did⟩ not satiate them, for when they had ⟨murdered⟩ the poor woman, they aeted with her in sueh ⟨a⟩ brutal manner, as deseeney, or the ⟨remembrance⟩ of the erime, will not permit me to mention, ⟨and⟩ this even before the unhappy husband, who ⟨not⟩ being able to avoid the sight, and incapable ⟨of⟩ affording her the least relief, entreated them ⟨to⟩ put an end to his miserable being; but they ⟨were⟩ as deaf and regardless to the tears, prayers, ⟨and⟩ entreaties of this venerable sufferer, as they ⟨had⟩ been to those of the others, and proeeeded in ⟨their⟩ hellish purpose of burning and destroying ⟨his⟩ house, barn, eattle, hay, corn, and every ⟨thing⟩ the poor man a few hours before was master ⟨of.⟩ Having saved what they thought proper from ⟨the⟩ flames, they gave the old man, feeble, weak, ⟨and⟩ in the miserable condition he then was, as ⟨well⟩ as myself, burdens to carry, and loading themselves likewise with bread and meat, ⟨pursued⟩ their journey on towards the Great ⟨Swamp⟩ where, being arrived, they lay for eight or ⟨nine⟩ days, sometimes diverting themselves in exercising the most atrocious and barbarous cruelties ⟨on⟩ ​⟨their⟩ unhappy vietim, the old man; sometimes ⟨they⟩ would strip him naked, and paint him all ⟨over⟩ with various sorts of colours, which they ⟨extracted⟩, or made from herbs and roots; at other ⟨times⟩, they would pluck the white hairs from his ⟨venerable⟩ beard, and tauntingly tell him, he was ⟨a fool⟩ for living so long, and that they would ⟨shew⟩ him kindness in putting him out of the ⟨world⟩; to all which the poor creature could but (illegible text)nt his sighs, his tears, his moans, and entreaties, ⟨that⟩, to my affrighted imagination, were enough ⟨to⟩ penetrate a heart of adamant, and soften the ⟨most⟩ obdurate savage. In vain, alas! were all ⟨his⟩ tears, for daily did they tire themselves with ⟨the⟩ various means they tried to torment him—⟨sometimes⟩ tying him to a tree, and whipping ⟨him⟩; at others, scorching his furrowed cheeks ⟨with⟩ red-hot coals, and burning his legs, quite to ⟨the⟩ knees; but the good old man, instead of re(illegible text)ng, or wickedly arraigning the divine justice, ⟨as⟩ many others in such cases, even in the ⟨greatest⟩ agonies, incessantly offered up his prayers to ⟨the⟩ Almighty, with the most fervent ⟨thanksgiving⟩ for his former mercies, and hoping the flames, surrounding and burning his aged limbs, ⟨would⟩ soon send him to the blessful mansions of (illegible text)ust, to be a partaker of the blessings there. ⟨And⟩ during such his pious ejaculations, his ⟨infernal⟩ plages would come round him, mimieking ​his heart-rending groans and piteous wailing. One night after he had thus been ⟨tormented⟩ whilst he and I were sitting together, ⟨condoling⟩ eaeh other at the misfortunes and miseries ⟨he⟩ daily suffered, twenty sealps and three ⟨prisoners⟩ were brought in by another party of ⟨Indians.⟩ They had unhappily fallen in their hands ⟨at⟩ Cannojigge, a small town near the river Susquahana, chiefly inhabited by the Irish. ⟨The⟩ prisoners gave us some shoeking aeeounts of murders and devastations committed in their ⟨party.⟩ The various and complieated aetions of these barbarians would entirely fill a large volume; ⟨but⟩ what I have already written, with a few ⟨other⟩ instanees whieh I shall select from the information, will enable the reader to guess at the ⟨horrible⟩ treatment the English, and Indians in their ⟨interest⟩, suffered for many years past. I ⟨shall⟩ therefore only mention, in a brief manner, ⟨those⟩ that suffered near the same time with ⟨myself.⟩ This party who now joined us, had it not found, in their power to begin their ⟨wickedness⟩ as soon as those who visited my habitation, ⟨the⟩ first of their tragedies being on the 25th day ⟨of⟩ October, 1754, when John Lewis, with his ⟨wife⟩ and three small ehildren, fell sacrifices to ⟨their⟩ eruelty, and were miserably sealped and ⟨murdered⟩, his house, barn, and every thing he ⟨possessed⟩ being burnt and destroyed. On the ⟨28th⟩ ​⟨Jacob⟩ Miller, with his wife and six of his family, ⟨together⟩ with every thing on his plantation ⟨underwent⟩ the same fate. The 30th, the house, ⟨mill⟩, barn, twenty head of eattle, two teams of ⟨horses⟩, and every thing belonging to the ⟨unhappy⟩ George Folke, met with the like treatment-⟨himself⟩, wife, and all his miserable family, ⟨consisting⟩ of nine in number, being inhumanly ⟨scalped⟩, then cut in pieees and given to the swine, ⟨which⟩ devoured them. I shall give another ⟨instance⟩ of the numberless and unheard of ⟨barbarities⟩ they related of the savages, and proceed to ⟨their⟩ own tragical end. In short, one of the ⟨substantial⟩ traders belonging to the province, having ⟨business⟩ that called him some miles up the ⟨country⟩, fell into the hands of these devils, who not ⟨only⟩ scalped him, but immediately roasted him ⟨before⟩ he was dead; then, like cannibals for want ⟨of⟩ other food, eat his whole body, and of his head ⟨made⟩ what they called an Indian pudding.
From these few instances of savage cruelty, ⟨the⟩ deplorable situation of the defenceless ⟨inhabitants⟩, and what they hourly suffered in that part ⟨of⟩ the globe, must strike the utmost terror to a ⟨human⟩ soul, and cause in every breast the utmost ⟨detestation⟩, nor only against the authors of such ⟨tragic⟩ scenes, but against those who, through ⟨perfidy⟩, inattention, or pusillanimous and ⟨erroneous⟩ principles, suffered these savages at first, ​unrepelled, or even unmolested, to eommit such outrages and incredible depradations and murders; for no torments, no barbarities that can be exereised on the human saerifiees they get into their power, are left untried or omitted.
The three prisoners that were brought with these additional forces, constantly repining at their lot, and almost dead with their exeesive hard treatment, contrived at last to make their escape; but being far from their own settlements, and not knowing the country, were soon after met by some others of the tribes or nations at war with us, and brought back to their diabolical masters, who greatly rejoiced at having them again in their infernal power. The poor ereatures, almost famished for want of sustenance, having had none during the time of their elopement, were no sooner in the clutches of the barbarians, than two of them were tied to a tree, and a great fire made round them, where they remained till they were terribly seorehed and burnt, when one of the villians, with his scalping knife, ripe open their bellies, took out their entrails, and burnt them before their eyes, whilst the others were cutting, piereing, and tearing the flesh from their breasts, hands, arms, and legs, with red-hot irons, till they were dead. The third unhappy vietim was reserved a few hours longer, to be, if possible, sacrificed in a more ​⟨cruel⟩ manner—his arms were tied close to his ⟨body⟩, and a hole being dug deep enough for him ⟨to⟩ stand upright, he was put therein, and earth (illegible text)med and beat in all round his body, up to the ⟨neck⟩, so that his head only appeared above the ⟨ground⟩; they then scalped him, and there let ⟨him⟩ remain for three or four hours in the ⟨greatest⟩ agonies; after which they made a small fire ⟨over⟩ his head, causing him to suffer the most ⟨excruciating⟩ torments imaginable, whilst the poor ⟨creature⟩ could only cry for merey in killing him ⟨immediately⟩, for his brains were boiling in his ⟨head⟩. Inexorable to all his plaints, they ⟨continued⟩ the fire, whilst, shoeking to behold, his eyes (illegible text)hed out of their sockets; and such agonizing ⟨torments⟩ did the unhappy creature suffer for near (illegible text) hours till he was quite dead! They then ⟨cut⟩ off his head and buried it with the other (illegible text)es-my task being to dig the graves, which, (illegible text)le and terrified as I was, the dread of ⟨suffering⟩ the same fate, enabled me to do. I shall here take up the reader's time, in vainly ⟨attempting⟩ to describe what I felt on such an occasion, but continue my narrative, as more equal ⟨to my⟩ abilities.
(illegible text) great snow now falling, the barbarians were (illegible text)le fearful lest the white people should, by ⟨the⟩ traces, find out their skulking retreats, ⟨which⟩ obliged them to make the best of their ​way to their winter quarters, about two ⟨hundred⟩ miles farther from any plantation or ⟨inhabitants⟩ where, after a long and tedious journey, ⟨being⟩ almost starved, I arrived with this infernal ⟨erew⟩ The plaee where we were to rest, in their ⟨tongue⟩ is called Alamingo. There were found a number of wigwams full of their women and ⟨children.⟩ Daneing, shooting, and shouting, were their ⟨general⟩ amusements; and in all their festivals ⟨and⟩ danees they relate what successes they have ⟨had⟩ and what damages they have sustained in ⟨the⟩ expeditions, in which I became part of ⟨the⟩ theme. The severity of the eold inereasing, ⟨they⟩ stript me of my elothes, for their own use, ⟨and⟩ gave me sueh as they usually wore ⟨themselves⟩ being a pieee of blanket, a pair of mogganes, ⟨or⟩ shoes, with a yard of eoarse cloth to put {reconstruct|round}} me instead of breeehes. To deseribe their ⟨dress⟩ and manner of living may not be altogether (illegible text) acceptable to some of my readers; but, as ⟨the⟩ size of this book will not permit me to be so ⟨particular⟩ as I might otherwise be, I shall just ⟨observe⟩, that they, in general, wear a white ⟨blanket⟩, which in war-time they paint with ⟨various⟩ figures, but partieularly the leaves of trees, in ⟨order⟩ to deeeive their enemies, when in the ⟨woods.⟩ Their mogganes are made of deer-skins, and ⟨the⟩ best sort have them bound round the edges ⟨with⟩ little beads and ribbands. On their legs ⟨they⟩ ​wear pieees of blue cloth for stockings, some like our soldiers' splatter-dashes. They reaeh higher than their knees, but not lower than their ancles. They esteem them easy to run in. Breeches they never wear, but instead thereof two pieces of linen, one before and another behind. The better sort have shirts of the finest linen they can get, and to these some wear ruffles; but these they never put on till they have painted them of various eolours, which they get from the pecone root and bark of trees, and never pull them on to wash, but wear them till they fall to pieces. They are very proud, and take great delight in wearing trinkets, such as silver plates, round their wrists and neeks, with several strings of wampum, whieh is made of eotton, interwoven with pebbles, eoekleshells, &c. down to their breasts, and from their ears and noses they have rings or beads whieh hand dangling an inch or two. The men have no beards, to prevent which they use certain instruments and tricks as soon it begins to grow. The hair of their heads is managed differently; some pluck out and destroy all, except a lock hanging from the crown of the head, which they interweave with wampum and feathers of various colours. The women wear it very long, ⟨twisted⟩ down their backs with beads, feathers, ⟨and⟩ wampum, and on their heads most of them wear little coronets of brass or coppar; round ​their middle they wear a blanket instead of a petticoat. The females are very chaste and constant to their husbands; and if any young maiden should happen to have a child before marriage, she is never esteemed afterwards. As for their food, they get it chiefly by hunting and shooting, and boil or roast all the meat they eat. Their standing dish eonsists of Indian eorn soaked, then bruised and boiled. Their bread is likewise made of wild oats, or sun-flower seeds. Their gun, tomahawk, scalping-knife, powder and shot, they carry with them in time of war. They in war deeline open engagements; bush fighting or skulking is their discipline; they are brave when engaged, having great fortitude in enduring tortures and are the most implaeably vindietive people upon the earth; for they revenge the death of any relation, or any affront, whenever oeeasion presents, let the distanee of time be never so remote. After long enduring the greates of hardships with these Indians. I at last eseaped out of their hand and went to Quebec; where, I was put on board a French Paeket, bound for England, and after a passage of six weeks. We, ⟨at⟩ last, to our great joy, arrived at Plymouth, on the 6th of November, 1756.
FINIS
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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