The history of King Philip's War

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Knots and Tops, &c. was fired, and all the Indians great
and fmall gathered in a ring round it. AwaJJionks with
the oldeft of her People Men and Women mix'd, kneeling
down made the firft. ring next the fire, and all the lufty,
ilout Men ftanding up made the next ; and then all the
Rabble in a confufed Crew furrounded on the out-fide.
Then the chief Captain ftep'd in between the rings and the
fire, with a Spear in one hand and an Hatchet in the
other, danced round the fire, and began to fight with it,
making mention of all the feveral Nations & Companies of
Indians in the Country that were Enemies to the Englifli
& at naming of every particular Tribe of Indians, he
would draw out & fight a new fire brand, & at his finifh-
ing his fight with each particular fire-brand, would bow to
him and thank him; and when he had named all the
feveral Nations and Tribes, and fought them all he ftuck
down his Spear and Hatchet, and came out; and another
ftept in and a6led over the fame dance, with more fury, if
poffible, than the firft; and when about half a dozen of
their chiefs had thus a6ted their parts, The Captain of the
Guard ftept up to Mr. Church and told him, They were
making Souldiers for him, and what they had been doing
was all one Swearing of them and having in that manner
216 u The principle of enliftment is he chants his own fong, and is greeted
fufficiently well preferved. ... Each war- with redoubling jells. Thefe ceremorior
that rifes and joins the war-dance, nies are tantamount to ' enliftment,' and
thereby becomes a volunteer for the trip. no young man who thus comes forward
He arms and equips himfelf; he pro- can honorably withdraw." [School-
vides his own fuftenance ; and when he craft's Information refpefling the In-
fteps out into the ring, and dances, dian Tribes of the U.S. vol. ii : 59, 60.]
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