A general history of the United States of America

Front matter

^.0*

•V

W oV %<

Chapter I

Introduction. Sketches of the principal discoveries of North America ; of the state of the country when discovered ; of the character, manners, religion, government, language, probable numbers, and geographical situation of the natives page 9

Chapter II

Attempts of the French and Spaniards to make settlements in Carolina, Patent of Sir Walter Raleigh, and his attempts to plant a colony. Sketches of the patents, discovery, and settlement of Virginia, New York, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island : and, of the principal occurrences attending their settlement - 51

Chapter III

Oppression of the Virginians under the administration of Sir John Harvey. Another massacre by the Indians. War with them. Confederation of the New England colonies. Their success in christianizing the natives. The Virginians refusing obedience to the Lord protector, he despatches an armament against them. They capitulate. His different treatment of different colonies. Reduction of New York. Injury by the king's commissioners. The settlement of New Jersey and the Carolinas. Indian war and depreda. tions in New England - 113

IV CONTENTS.

Chapter IV

Customs imposed on the colonies by act of parliament. The administration of Major Andros. Both oppress, and ereate general uneasiness. Claims of the Major on Connecticut. The colony make opposition and protest against his conduct. The Virginians distressed by the acts of trade, and government at New York ; the people are thrown into tumult ; Bacon excites rebellion Its unhappy consequences. Andros' treatment of the Jerseys. Quowarrantos are issued against the New England charters. I he oppressive administration of Sir Edmund Andros. Sir Edmund seized by the people at Boston. Joy excited by the accession of William and Mary to the throne of Britain 151

Chapter V

The first assembly in New York. King James' treatment of the colony. Leisler's usurpation. The settlement of New Hampshire, and its separation from Massachusetts. The settlement of Pennsylvania. The counties on the Delaware become a distinct jurisdiction. Revolution in the Jerseys. Intrigue and corruption in the government of Carolina. Abuse of the French protestants. Establishment of episcopacy, and persecution of the dissenters — 178

Chapter VI

Ravages of the French and Indians in king William's and queen Anne's wars. Destruction of Schenectada, Salmon Falls, and Casco. The reduction of Port-Royal. Sir William Phips' unsuccessful attempt on Canada. Major Schuyler's expedition. The distressed state of New England. Armament from France, under the Marquis of Nesmond for the reduction of Boston and New York. The remarkable preservation of New York and the country in general. The uncommon cruelties of this war. Depredations and distressed state of New England in queen Anne's war. Expedition of Colonel Church. Expedition under Colonel Nicholson to Wood Creek. Reduction of Port Royal and Acadia. Expedition against Canada, under Admiral Walker and Brigadier Hill. The loss of New England in these wars, and their general effect on the country — 214

CONTENTS.

Chapter VII

Expedition against St. Augustine. Defeat of the French in Carolina. Palatines settle in North Carolina Massacre by the Corees and Tuscaroras. Expedition against them. General conspiracy of the Indians against the Carolinians. War with them. Distressed state of the colony. It revolts from the proprietary government, and effects a revolution. Under the government of Great Britain enjoyed safety, prosperity, and general satisfaction 247

Chapter VIII

Settlement of North Carolina. First voyage made to that country. Interview with the Natives. Their kindness. Settlement of Albemarle and Cape Fear. Revolt in Albemarle. Deed from the proprietors. Constitution of the colony. Palatines plant themselves on the Roanoke. The colony is purchased by the crown, and the government becomes regal. The plan and patent for the settlement of Georgia. Settlements made. Regulations of the trustees. Expedition against St. Augustine. Spaniards invade Georgia and are defeated. The corporation surrender their charter and the government becomes regal. General observations relative to Georgia and the southern colonies . 266

Chapter IX

War with the eastern Indians. Brunswick destroyed. Canso surprised, and seventeen vessels taken by the enemy. Attempts to engage the Five Nations in a war against the eastern Indians. The English take and burn Norridgewock. Peace made with the Ifidians. French war. Duviviere takes Canso. Expedition of the New Englanders against Louisburg. Remarkable deliverance of New England - 295

VI CONTENTS.

Chapter X

French war, 1755. Reasons of the war. Colonel Washington's ex r pedition. Convention at Albany. Expedition against Nova Scotia, Fort du Quesne, Crown Point, and Niagara. Success in Nova Scotia. General Braddock defeated by the French and Indians. Baron Dieskau defeated and taken by general Johnson. Unhappy division of the southern colonies. Colonel Bradstreet defeats a party of the enemy. Oswego taken. Inactivity of Lord Loudon. Conduct of the southern colonies. Comparison between the campaigns of 1755 and 1756 339

Chapter XI

Preparations for the campaign in 1757. Plan of operation in America changed, and Louisburg becomes its only object. This is reinforced, and the expedition postponed. Fort William Henry taken by the French. The country is alarmed, and great reinforcements of militia sent forward to Albany and Fort Edward. The campaign closes with loss and shame. The provincials lose all confidence in the British commanders. Change of men, 1758. Armament against Louisburg. Its siege and capture by general Amherst. Defeat at Ticonderoga. Du Quesne taken by general Forbes - 369

Chapter XII

Plan of the campaign, 1759. Expeditions against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, Niagara and Quebec. Ticonderoga and Crown Point abandoned. Niagara taken. Siege of Que bee. Action at the falls of Montmorenci. The camp removes to point Levi. The troops iand above the town. Battle of Quebec. Generals Wolfe and Montcalm killed. Qiiebec surrenders. Movements of general Amherst nn lake Champlain 388

CONTENTS. VH

Chapter XIII

State of thegaYrison at Quebec. Designs of M. Levi. His preparations for the siege of the city. Marches with his army from Montreal. Battle of Sillery. General Murray defeated, and Quebec besieged. Lord Colville arrives with the British fleet. The French shipping is destroyed, and the siege raised. 'Plan and movements of general Amherst. He goes down the river St. Lawrence. Makes a junction with generals Murray and Haviland, at Montreal. The city surrenders, and the whole country of Canada is conquered. War breaks out with the Cherokees. Their lower towns destroyed. They take fort Loudon. Colonel Grant desolates their country with fire and sword. They make peace, and the whole country is quieted 409

GENERAL HISTORY

OP THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Chapter I. Chap

Introduction. Sketches of the principal discoveries of North America ; of I. the state of the country when discovered ; of the character, manners, re- ______

ligion, government, language, probable numbers, and geographical situation of the natives.

V ERY conspicuous have been the exertions of Providence in the discovery of the new world, in the settlement, growth, and protection of the states and churches of North America. These challenge a grateful acknowledgment and perpetuation. It is the design of these sketches to trace them through the various periods, from the first discovery of the continent, to the present era, and to transmit them to succeeding ages, as a tribute of honour to their great and beneficent Author.

In the prosecution of this design, it will be necessary to notice the first and progressive discovery of the country ; its state, with respect to cultivation, inhabitants, natural fruits, and advantages, when it was first known to the Europeans. The charters, boundaries, settlement, and constitution of the colonies within the limits of the United States ; the dangers, hardships, and magnanimity of the first colonists ; the progress of settlement, cultivation, literature, and population ; with the principal occurrences, civil, military, and ecclesiastical, will also be exhibited.

Vol. I. 2 chap. After that long period of ignorance and inactiv- L ity which succeeded the fall of the Roman empire, it was the will of Providence, in the fifteenth century, to awaken mankind to a more inquisitive, bold, and enterprising spirit, and to signalize this period by some of the greatest, most memorable, and happy events. Men now passed the limits within which they had been confined, in preceding ages, discovered new countries, and opened an immense field for the display of genius and courage. The Portuguese had the honour of leading in this career of usefulness and glory. Their discoveries roused the attention of Europe, and more and more fired its several nations with the spirit of discovery and enterprise. Christopher Columbus, a man of great and daring genius, highly skilled in geography and navigation, became strongly impressed with the idea of a westerly passage to Discovery tne Indies and of unknown regions, which time, art, of the new an j enterprise would soon discover. With this im-

world, Oct. l P r i

12th, 1492. pression, alter a course of such persevering exertions and magnanimity, as rarely find a parallel in the history of man, he obtained the sole honour of descrying the western isles, and of communicating to Europe the intelligence of a new world. discover s The Cabots, John and Sebastian, stimulated by the north- t nt; success and glory of Columbus, made a successnent, 1497. ful application to king Henry VII. of England, for ships and powers for the purpose of further discovery. To them was reserved the honour of first exploring the great continent of North America. They ranged her coasts, from the fifty seventh degree of north latitude, to the Floridas. They discovered Canada, Nova Scotia, New-England and the southern states. They erected crosses along the coast, and took a formal possession of the country in behalf of the crown of England.* This, in the course of Providence, laid the foundation of the British claims and settlements in America. Progressive discove-

* Prince's Cliron. p 80, and Smith's hist. New Jersey, p. 7,24,25.

ries were made by other adventurers ; especially by chap. captains Gosnold and Smith. *■

The Spaniards made early discoveries of some parts of the continent. In fifteen hundred and twelve, Spanish John Ponce de Leon discovered the continent in ijag^*™" thirty degrees and eight minutes of north latitude and took possession of the country naming it Florida. Twenty seven years after, Ferdinand de Soto sailed from Cuba, with nine hundred men, for the conquest of Florida. Arriving at Spiritu Santo, he made a tour into the country, to the northward, four hundred leagues, and discovered the great river Missisippi.* Dying in the country, his successor, Al- 1539. verado, about three years after, constructed a number of vessels and sailed down the river, making discoveries more than four hundred leagues.

While the Spaniards were making discoveries in the southern parts of the continent, the French steered a more northerly course. Francis I. of France, an enterprising prince, willing to share part of the new world with his neighbours, despatched John Ve- f 7eWe S d ' s ' razina, with several ships to make discoveries in 15*4. America. He sailed along the coast from twenty eight to fifty degrees of north latitude. Ten years after James Cartier was sent on the same business. He first came to anchor at cape Bonavista, and thence ranged the coast, to fifty degrees of north latitude. He made a discovery of various commodious harbours ; but found the climate so cold and the country so uninviting, that he sailed back to the gulf of St. Lawrence; where, in the name of the most christian king, he took possession of several parts of the country. He made a voyage, the next year, and sailed up the river to the great falls, which were supposed to be three hundred leagues from the mouth of St. Lawrence. He visited the island of Montreal, which, at that time, was the chief place of resort for all the Indians in Canada. It was then named Hochelaga. He 1536 «

* Prince's Chron. p. 92.

chap, spent the winter in the country and explored the parts I; adjacent to the river.*

From these various discoveries, originated the opposite claims of the several courts of Britian, France, and Spain ; and the wars, which, for so many ages, embroiled this country, and occasioned such an expense both of blood and treasure. For nearly a cen- Discovery tury, however, these claims lay dormant. In fifteen neg ec e . nun( j rec i an( j n \ ne ^ Henry the VII. was no more. The aifairs of divorce, matrimony, and the reformation, engrossed the whole attention of Henry VIII. and the business of discovery, claim, and settlement Reasons of was entirely neglected by the English court. The thisnegiect. r i cnes G f the South drew the attention of the Spaniards. The long and bloody wars between Charles the V. emperor of Germany, and Francis I. gave the court of France ample employment. Besides, no prince, or statesman, in Europe, appears Jo have foreseen the advantages of planting colonies in this northern continent. It presented no mines of gold or silver, nor were its mountains covered with spicery and balm. It was not conceivable, at that period, how numerous hardy colonies, could give such strength, opulence and grandeur to empires, as could never be derived from the gold and rich productions of the southern regions. Almost the only advantage arising from the discovery of North America was the fishery on the banks of Newfoundland. This was begun, by individuals, early in the sixteenth century, but the advantages, at first, were small. Many years elapsed before it was ripened into a system and became a national emolument.

When the Europeans made the first discoveries of country 7 * e North America, it was a vast and dreary wilderness, when it was replete with wild and savage beasts, and with men, i^covere . fafe j ess w ^ an j sava ge than they. Here the panther, the catamountain, the tyger, the black and white bear, the wild cat, the wolf, and other beasts of prey

* Prince's Chron. p. 89, 90. and Wynn's hist, vol. I. p. 267, 768, poured out their alarming roar. The buffalo andthe elk, chap. the moose and the carabo rushed through her thick- L ets, the stag and the fallow deer ranged her mountains and leaped over her plains. The wild animals pect to anlurking in her groves, the feathered tribes perching iraals - on her boughs, and the various species of fowls covering her waters, were too numerous to particularize in the present work. America hath her full proportion of animals. Of two hundred species, which is the whole number supposed to exist upon the globe, the one half are aboriginal of America.*

The surface of the earth, destitute of cultivation, Cultivation, was generally loaded with rank and exuberant vegetation. Hidden, for ages, by extensive forests, from the purifying influence of the sun, the air became stagnant. In many places, putrid exhalations rose from the waters and low grounds, engendering disease and death. By reason of the fall of timber, twigs, and foliage, little grass was to be found, except in the marshes, low grounds, and tracts partially cleared by the natives. However, the natural fruits and Fruits and advantages of the country were many. On the shore ;2j£. s * d " of the sea, on the banks of the rivers, by the brooks, and in the low grounds was an abundance of. vines and grapes. These were of various kinds. The grapes are described, by the discoverers, as lying on the green soil, on the plains, and sands, and as so hanging over the shore of the sea, that the tides overflowed them. They imagined, that in the whole world besides there was not the like abundance. Say they, " The woods are not such as you find in Bohemia, Muscovia, or Hercynia, barren and fruitless ; but the highest and reddest cedars in the world, bettering them of the Azores, Indies, or Libanus : Pines, Cypress, Sassafras, the Lentisk bearing mastick, and many other of excellent smell."f In the southern parts were both the black and white mulberry, plumbs, crabs, melons, musk mellons, cucumbers,

* Jefferson's notes, p. 60. + Smith's hist. p. 2.

chap, tobacco, corn, pease, beans, pumkins, squashes, pota- »• toes, and various kinds of esculent roots in abundance.* Acorns, walnuts, chesnuts, groundnuts, wild cherries, currants, strawberries, whortle berries, and other wild fruits, almost innumerable, grew in all parts of the United States. The discoverers relate, that the sweet flavour of America met, and agreeably saluted them, even before her shores or high lands were presented to their view.f

The country abounded with rich intervals, extensive and fertile plains, adapted to all the purposes of husbandry, but none knew how to improve them. It had the finest groves and limber in the world, for building of every kind. It was interspersed with numerous rivers and lakes. Some of the latter were little inferior to the small seas of the old world, affording the most extensive inland navigation.^ Its coasts were washed more than a thousand miles by the Atlantic ocean. Its riches, in skins and furs, were scarcely equalled by those of any other part of the globe. It possessed all natural advantages for building, trade, and navigation. But the Aborigines had made no improvements. They were in total ignorance of their advantages. Beyond the hollow trough, or canoe, burnt out with fire, and wrought with sharp stones and shells, or made with the bark of birch trees, with ribs, and pitched over with tar and tur- " pentine, they had made no advances in navigation.

Not known r fhe country yielded mines of copper, and abounded

to the na- . . J J , , - 1 l ' ~ !

tives. in iron ores ; but they were so ignorant ol arts and manufactures, that they were not the possessors even of a knife, nor of any instrument of iron.

* Smith's hist. p. 22, 26, 27, and Beverly's hist. p. 124, 125.

f Smith's hist. p. 2. Voyage of Amidas and Barlow.

i The several western lakes, are said, upon an accurate calculation, to contain the following number of acres.

Lake of the woods 1,333,800. Lake Huron - 5,009,920.

Lake Rain - - - 165,200. Lake Sinclair - 895,000.

Lake Michigan . 10,368,000. Lake, Ontario 2,390,000.

No public roads, no regular towns nor villages, no chap. gardens nor fields of inciosure, were to be found, in l - all the vast regions of this northern continent. Neither oxen, cows, horses, sheep, nor any of the domesticated animals of the European nations, had been ever seen in them. During the many ages, which must have elapsed since the peopling of North America, no active genius had appeared, among its numerous nations, to teach and encourage arts, industry, a civil and comfortable manner of living.

The waters of America are not less prolific than pishand the lands. Its seas, lakes, and various rivers were fowls - replete with an uncommon variety and plenty of excellent fish. The whale, grampus, sturgeon, cod, salmon, sole, plaice, herring, shad, perch, pickerel, breams, trout, and numerous other kinds of fish, sported in its waters. Lobsters, crabs, shrimps, muscles, oysters, clams, and other shell fish enriched its shores and sands.

An almost incredible number and variety of fowls covered its waters. Among these were geese, ducks of various kinds, widgeons, teale, and others suitable for the first table entertainments.

The country was peopled with numerous tribes, Description or clans of Indians. They were generally tall, ^Jfoea ab °* strait, well shaped men. There was not, indeed, in Their statthe southern, the same uniformity, in stature, as in ure ' the northern tribes. The Wighcocomicoes, and others bordering on them, were small. The Sasquesahanocks were uncommonly large. Smith saith, "such great and well proportioned men are seldom ever seen ; for they seemed like giants to the English." Five of their iveroiucinces, or kings, made him a visit. Of the largest of them he gives this description. " The calf of whose leg was three quarters of a yard about, and all the rest of his limbs so answerable to that proportion, that he seemed the goodliest man we ever beheld."* The native in-

* Smith's hist. p. 24.

CHAP.

I. Complexion

Constitution.

Genius.

habitants of the mountains, in North Carolina, were of a gigantick stature.* The Indians, whether great or small, have the best limbs, and a good proportion. They are universally born white, but when grown, are of a copper brown. Their hair is strait, long, and very black. They have black eyes, a fine, white set of teeth, and tolerably good features. Their faces and noses are generally broader, and less prominent, than those of the English. They have commonly very thin beards, or none ; not so much from nature, as from a custom, which they have, of pulling them out by the roots, when they first make their appearance. They are healthful, firm, and vigorous ; capable of uncommon fatigues and hardships. They are full of agility : travel and run with uncommon ease and speed. f Their women are strong and masculine ; more inured to exercise and labour than the men : consequently they are more firm and capable of hardship. They endure the pains of child bearing without a groan. J Sometimes, soon after labour, they take their children on their backs, and travel as before.

With respect to the general character of the natives, they were quick of apprehension, ingenious, and, in many instances, nothing could exceed their courtesy and friendship. Gravity and eloquence distinguished them in council, bravery and address in war. In general, they were not more easily provoked, than the Europeans ; but when once they had received an injury it was never forgotten. In anger, they were not, like the English, talkative and boisterous, but sullen and revengeful. Nothing indeed, when they were exasperated, could exceed their revenge and cruelty. Their personal and passive fortitude was equal to their cruelty. They would defend themselves against an host of enemies, or be killed, rather than surrender even to those, who, they knew

* Lawson's hist, of North Carolina, p. 82. f Hutch, vol. I. p. 465, * Neal's hist. N. E. vol. I. p. 45.

UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. 17

would give them good treatment. When in the chap. power of their enemies, they were never known to beg *• for life : on the contrary they court death.* Though they were gradually disjointed, or broken in pieces, though flayed or burnt alive, they neither groaned, nor exhibited any signs of timidity or sorrow, f They nevertheless had a keen sensibility : not only their women, but even their warriors, who wish to appear superior to human events, wept bitterly, for the loss of children and relatives.^ Treachery, indolence, inconstancy and improvidence, were also conspicuous traits in their character. §

Their dress was various. In summer they were Dress, generally naked, except about the waist, which was covered with a piece of leather, with grass or leaves. In winter they clothed themselves with the skins of wild beasts, thrown about them like a mantle. Some clothed themselves with mantles of feathers, so curiously wrought, with threads, that the feathers only were discernible. These were both warm and beautiful. Their sachems and chief men, on days of festivity and show, clad themselves with large mantles of deer skins, embroidered with white beads, 0rnameI ^- or copper ; or they were painted in various forms. As signs of royalty, they wore chains of fish bones about their necks, the skin of a wild cat, or some other terrible creature on their arms, or about their bodies. On the legs, hands, breasts, and faces of the women, were the figures of various living creatures, curiously wrought, with black spots, into the skin and flesh. They wore pendants of bracelets, chains and copper in their ears ; bracelets on their arms, and chains on their legs. The men wore pendants

* Jefferson's notes, p. 108, 109. t Smith's hist. p. 38.

\ Jefferson's notes, p. 109. § Every part of this character might have been illustrated by parti, eular examples, and they are omitted, only for the sake of brevity. They may be found in Smith's ancient history of Virginia, in Wood's Prospect of New-England, in Colden's history of Canada, in Hubbard's narrative, in Jefferson's notes on Virginia, and m ether writers en the subject.

Vol. L 3

Habita tions.

chap, of copper, of living and dead animals in their ears. On their heads they wore the feathers and wings

of fowls, with the rattles of snakes : and, sometimes

the whole skin of a hawk, or of some strange fowl stuffed, with the wings spread. Their faces and shoulders were painted in various forms, and he was esteemed the bravest man, who could make the most monstrous and horrible appearance.*

The Indian houses, or wigwams, were at best, but poor smoky cells. They were constructed, like arbours, of small young trees, bent and twisted together, and so curiously covered with mats, or the bark of trees, that they were tolerably warm and dry. In the center was their fire ; and an opening at the top emitted the smoke. For the convenience of wood and water, they were commonly erected in groves, and near some river, brook, or living spring. When the wood failed, the owners changed their quarters.

Their household furniture was as poor as their dwellings. They had neither pot nor kettle ; neither chair nor stool, table nor napkin, but sat, ate, and lodged on the ground. Their beds were mats, or skins, on which, in the cold seasons, they lodged, with their feet always to the fire. Their hatchet was a stone somewhat in the form of the English hatchet. Instead of an eye it had a neck, round which a withe was fastened for a handle. Their knives were sharp shells and the splinters of reeds. With these they scalped their enemies, flayed and disjointed their game, cut their hair, trimmed their feathers, sh iped their shoes, buskins and mantles. They planned and dressed their corn with the shells of oysters and clams, or with a stone hoe, or with a stick, broad and sharpened at one end. Between their hands and knees the women readily spun an even thread or cord, of the bark of trees, of the Indian hemp, or of the sinews of moose and deer. With this

Utensils

Smith's hist. p. 30. 38.

they made their lines and nets, for fishing, and the chap. strings of their bows. Their nets were small, but as formally wrought as those of the Europeans. Their fish hooks were made of bones, bent, or otherwise formed, much in the shape of the English fish hook.

Their food was course and simple. Till the Eu- Food. ropeans visited them, they had neither bread nor salt. They fed on the flesh and entrails of moose, deer, bears, and all kinds of wild be sts and birds ; on fish, eels, and creeping things. They had good stomachs, and nothing came amiss. In the hunting and fowling seasons, they had venison, moose, buffaloes, and fat bears : fish, turkeys, geese, and the like. In the summer, they had green corn, beans, pease and the various fruits which the country naturally produced.* In the winter they subsisted on corn, beans, fish, nuts, groundnuts, and other esculent roots.

Their only way of cooking flesh or fish, was by cookery. roasting them on a stick, or broiling them on the coals. In the winter, they most commonly ate their corn parched. Sometimes, after parching they pounded it into a kind of coarse meal. They termed this Nuichicke ; which, saith Hutchinson, " Is well enough translated Nocake." With a small pouch of this they would support themselves, for several days, in their hunts and long marches, when destitute of other supplies. They had no set meals ; but, like other wild creatures, ate when they were hungry. Sometimes they had little or nothing for a day or two. But, when they had provisions, they feasted: after fasting they indulged themselves freely, and made up, at one meal, all they had lost before.

The various tribes waged, with each other, fierce War and implacable wars. They fought not for lands nor

* Pease and beans seem to have been natural productions of the -country. Ibid. p.28. See also Lawson's history of North. Carolina,p.76, chap riches; but for glory, women, and, principally, fof 1 revenge. Their personal valour was great; but "^ they had little discipline. They had neither drum nor trumpet : their throats served them, on all occasions, where these were necessary. They had not only a surprising faculty of raising their voices, in wild and inarticulate sounds, but of making their words understood at a great distance. Singular was their address in ambushing, ensnaring, and surprising their enemies. They commenced their battles in a sudden, furious manner, with the war hoop, or Indian yell, than which nothing could be more savage and terrible. Whenever they gained a victory, their route was marked with promiscuous carnage and destruction. The women and royalties of a conquered sachem, were esteemed the property, and reserved for the use of the sachem, who made the conquest. The Indians, in general, scalped, cut oifthe heads, and mangled the dead bodies of their enemies.

ScfSes When they made captives, they offered them no mal-treatment ; but would rather starve themselves, than suffer them to want. Whether they were to be kept alive, or to be tortured to death, they fed them as well as circumstances would permit : and, sometimes, feasted them previous to the most merciless torments. No instance is to be found of their having offered the least violence to the chastity of their female captives. Notwithstanding, their wretched prisoners underwent severe punishments, at their journey's end, before it was determined whether they should live or die : if it was determined that they should live, from that moment, they received the kindest treatment ; but if the determination was otherwise, they died in torments, to satiate the cruelty and revenge of their captors.*