But before I give you the Story of this _Gallant Slave_, ’tis fit I tell
you the Manner of bringing them to these new _Colonies_; those they make
Use of there, not being _Natives_ of the Place: for those we live with
in perfect Amity, without daring to command ’em; but, on the contrary,
caress ’em with all the brotherly and friendly Affection in the World;
trading with them for their Fish, Venison, Buffaloes Skins, and little
Rarities; as _Marmosets_, a sort of Monkey, as big as a Rat or Weasel,
but of a marvellous and delicate Shape, having Face and Hands like a
Human Creature; and _Cousheries_, a little Beast in the Form and Fashion
of a Lion, as big as a Kitten, but so exactly made in all Parts like
that Noble Beast, that it is it in _Miniature_: Then for little
_Paraketoes_, great _Parrots_, _Muckaws_, and a thousand other Birds and
Beasts of wonderful and surprizing Forms, Shapes, and Colours: For Skins
of prodigious Snakes, of which there are some three-score Yards in
Length; as is the Skin of one that may be seen at his Majesty’s
_Antiquary’s_; where are also some rare Flies, of amazing Forms and
Colours, presented to ’em by myself; some as big as my Fist, some less;
and all of various Excellencies, such as Art cannot imitate. Then we
trade for Feathers, which they order into all Shapes, make themselves
little short Habits of ’em, and glorious Wreaths for their Heads, Necks,
Arms and Legs, whose Tinctures are unconceivable. I had a Set of these
presented to me, and I gave ’em to the _King’s Theatre_; it was the
Dress of the _Indian Queen_, infinitely admir’d by Persons of Quality;
and was inimitable. Besides these, a thousand little Knacks, and
Rarities in Nature; and some of Art, as their Baskets, Weapons, Aprons,
&c. We dealt with ’em with Beads of all Colours, Knives, Axes, Pins and
Needles, which they us’d only as Tools to drill Holes with in their
Ears, Noses and Lips, where they hang a great many little Things; as
long Beads, Bits of Tin, Brass or Silver beat thin, and any shining
Trinket. The Beads they weave into Aprons about a Quarter of an Ell
long, and of the same Breadth; working them very prettily in Flowers of
several Colours; which Apron they wear just before ’em, as _Adam_ and
_Eve_ did the Fig-leaves; the Men wearing a long Stripe of Linen, which
they deal with us for. They thread these Beads also on long
Cotton-threads, and make Girdles to tie their Aprons to, which come
twenty times, or more, about the Waste, and then cross, like a
Shoulder-belt, both Ways, and round their Necks, Arms and Legs. This
Adornment, with their long black Hair, and the Face painted in little
Specks or Flowers here and there, makes ’em a wonderful Figure to
behold. Some of the Beauties, which indeed are finely shap’d, as almost
all are, and who have pretty Features, are charming and novel; for they
have all that is called Beauty, except the Colour, which is a reddish
Yellow; or after a new Oiling, which they often use to themselves, they
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