a prodigious Way asunder, and the Hair hang over the Forehead
like the Eves of a House, which seems very frightful: They being ask'd
the Reason why they practis'd this Method, reply'd, the Indian's Sight
was much strengthened and quicker, thereby, to discern the Game in hunting
at larger Distance, and so never miss'd of becoming expert Hunters,
the Perfection of which they all aim at, as we do to become
experienced Soldiers, learned School-Men, or Artists in Mechanicks:
He that is a good Hunter never misses of being a Favourite amongst the Women;
the prettiest Girls being always bestow'd upon the chiefest Sports-Men,
and those of a grosser Mould, upon the useless Lubbers.
Thus they have a Graduation amongst them, as well as other Nations.
As for the Solemnity of Marriages amongst them, kept with so much Ceremony
as divers Authors affirm, it never appear'd amongst those many Nations
I have been withal, any otherwise than in the Manner I have
mention'd hereafter.

The Girls at 12 or 13 Years of Age, as soon as Nature prompts them,
freely bestow their Maidenheads on some Youth about the same Age,
continuing her Favours on whom she most affects, changing her Mate very often,
few or none of them being constant to one, till a greater Number of Years
has made her capable of managing domestick Affairs, and she hath try'd
the Vigour of most of the Nation she belongs to; Multiplicity of Gallants
never being a Stain to a Female's Reputation, or the least Hindrance
of her Advancement, but the more Whorish, the more Honourable,
and they of all most coveted, by those of the first Rank, to make a Wife of.
The `Flos Virginis', so much coveted by the Europeans, is never valued
by these Savages. When a Man and Woman have gone through their Degrees,
(there being a certain Graduation amongst them) and are allow'd
to be House-Keepers, which is not till they arrive at such an Age,
and have past the Ceremonies practis'd by their Nation, almost all Kingdoms