As soldiers, they are far from being honorable, but perfidious and accomplish all their designs by treachery ; they also use many stratagems to deceive their ene learn, be it good or bad.

mies, and execute by night almost all their plans that are in any way hazardous. The thirst for revenge seems innate in

them ; they are very pertinacious in self-defense, when they cannot escape ; which, under other circumstances, they like to do ; and they make little of death, wheri it is inevitable, and despise

Collections of the

New Tork Historical Society, zd Series,

I,

46.

OF HUDSON'S RWER.

all tortures that can be inflicted on them at the stake, exhibiting no faint-heartedness, but generally singing until they are dead. Their clothing is described as having been most sumptuous. The women ornamented themselves more than the men. " All wear around the waist a girdle made of the fin of the whale or

The men originally wore a breech-cloth, made

of sewant."

of skins, but after the Dutch came those who could obtain it wore " between their legs a lap of duffels cloth half an ell broad

and nine quarters long," which they girded around their waists, and drew up in a fold "with a flap of each end hanging down in front and rear." In addition to this they had mantles of feathers, and at a later period duffels cloth

"

decked themselves with " plaid

worn over the

in the form of a sash, which was