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Beyond Penn's Treaty

Journal, Visit to Indians in New York State, v.2

Page out of 56

they are very Jealous of encroachments on the
rights & Priviledges of each other & Offences of this
Nature have often given occasion for War between
Nations. When such Offences Occur they hold
private Councils & if they determine
to engage, they endeavour to do it by Surprize. Such
as excel in Artifice & courage are appointed their Chiefs &
have the management of their War Concerns.
They generally paint themselves Red, but on
some occasions streaks of Black are intermixed.
Painting with Red, tho' expressive of War, is also
used to denote cheerfulness so & sometimes to hide
the true expression of the Countenance, & in this
way, when rubbed round the Eye, it has a Won
derful Effect. it also makes them look fierce --
Black mostly denotes Trouble -- In their
Marches They are as Careful as possible to con
ceal their Tracks & to make very little Fire
in order to prevent its being discovered that
a Multitude has passed. when engaged they
are very Fierce, scalping those whom they kill,
& taking Prisoners all they can-- these are taken
home with them & arranging before the Council
where it is Determined which should be Put
to torture & which preserved alive, -- the lat
ter are sometimes adopted in Families in the
place of Relatives who have been killd in
the War-- in such Cases they are treated here
by & often only in marriage with the nation
receiving them. --
They are very fond of ornaments & a
mong the Woman particularly Silver
Brouches. TS told us that he once