s tribe; but, at length, to his unspeakable grief, she had died of a
fever, occasioned by eating too much raw bear, which they had killed in a
hunting excursion.
    By this time, Mr. Lismahago was elected sachem, acknowledged first warrior
of the Badger tribe, and dignified with the name or epithet of
Occacanastaogarora, which signifies nimble as a weasel; but all these advantages
and honours he was obliged to resign, in consequence of being exchanged for the
orator of the community, who had been taken prisoner by the Indians that were in
alliance with the English. At the peace, he had sold out upon half-pay, and was
returned to Britain, with a view to pass the rest of his life in his own
country, where he hoped to find some retreat where his slender finances would
afford him a decent subsistence. Such are the outlines of Mr. Lismahago's
history, to which Tabitha did seriously incline her ear; - indeed, she seemed to
be taken with the same charms that captivated the heart of Desdemona, who loved
the Moor for the dangers he had past.
    The description of poor Murphy's sufferings, which threw my sister Liddy
into a swoon, extracted some sighs from the breast of Mrs. Tabby: when she
understood he had been rendered unfit for marriage, she began to spit, and
ejaculated, »Jesus, what cruel barbarians!« and she made wry faces at the lady's
nuptial repast; but she was eagerly curious to know the particulars of her
marriage-dress; whether she wore high-breasted stays or boddice, a robe of silk
or velvet, and laces of Mechlin or minionette - she supposed, as they were
connected with the French, she used rouge, and had her hair dressed in the
Parisian fashion. The captain would have declined giving a categorical
explanation of all these particulars, observing, in general, that the Indians
were too tenacious of their own customs to adopt the modes of any nation
whatsoever: he said, moreover, that neither the simplicity of their manners, nor
the commerce of their country, would admit of those articles of luxury which are
deemed magnificence in Europe; and that they were too virtuous and sensible to
encourage the introduction of any fashion which might help to render them
corrupt and effeminate.
    These observations served only to inflame her desire of knowing the
particulars about which she had enquired; and, with all his evasion, he could
not help discovering the following circumstances - that his princess had neither
shoes, stockings, shift, nor any kind of linen - that her bridal
