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Beyond Penn's Treaty

Account of a visit paid to the Indians in New York State

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interpreter, what would be the
consequence, if any of them
should be taken, he said they
would put ashes on their heads,
and very much degrade them;
we saw a number of elderly
women going into the house,
whom these monsters quetly
let pass, from which circum-
stances and some others, we were
of the mind, there was a women
in labour in said house, and this
wild scene was transacted, as a
ceremony or rejoiceing, at the birth
of a child, or else to keep the boys
and young men from coming nigh
the house or looking in, as their
construction was such as not to
admit of privecy. Our interpreter
was a young man and did not