feat; that, in short, they will themselves find means to be revenged of
them, which cannot but be easy to do on cowards.

The men, at this, begin to parley with one another, and order the women
to withdraw, telling them, that they shall be satisfied; and that, in a
little time, they may expect to have prisoners brought to them, to do
what they will with them.

The next thing they agree on is to send a couple of messengers, in the
nature of heralds at arms, with their hatchets, quivers, bows, and
arrows, to declare war against the nation by whom they conceive
themselves aggrieved. These go directly to the village where the bulk of
the nation resides, observing a sullen silence by the way, without
speaking to any that may meet them. When they draw near the village,
they give the earth several strokes with their hatchets, as a signal of
commencing hostilities in form; and to confirm it the more, they shoot
two of their best arrows at the village, and retire with the utmost
expedition. The war is now kindled in good earnest, and it behoves each
party to stand well on its guard. The heralds, after this, return to
make a report of what they have done; and to prove their having been at
the place appointed, they do not fail of bringing away with them some
particular marks of that spot of the country. Then it is, that the
inhabitants of each nation begin to think seriously, whether they shall
maintain their ground by staying in their village, and fortifying it in
their manner, or look out for a place of greater safety, or go directly
in quest of the enemy. Upon these questions they assemble, deliberate,
and hold endless consultations, though withal not uncurious ones: for it
is on these occasions, that those of the greatest sagacity and eloquence
display all their talents, and make themselves distinguished. One of
their most common stratagems, when there were reasons for not attacking