Page 368
An.1686
Their Converse with the Generals Women.
their Language as to understand them, and give them answers to their demands. I remember that one day they asked how many Wives the King of England had? we told them but one, and that our English Laws did not allow of any more. They said it was a very strange custom, that a Man should be confined to one Woman ; some of them said it was a very bad Law, but others again said it was a good Law ; so there was a great dif- pute among them about it. But one of the Ge- neral's Women said positively, that our Law was better than theirs, and made them all silent by the reason which she gave for it. This was the War Queen, as we called her, for she did always accompany the General when-ever he was called out to engage his Enemies, but the rest did not.
By this familiarity among the Women, and by often discoursing them, we came to be acquainted with their customs and privileged. The General lies with his Wives by turns, but she by whom he had the first Son, has a double portion of his com- pany : for when it comes to her turn, she has him two nights, whereas the rest have him but one. She with whom he is to lye at night seems to have a particular respect shewn her by the rest all the precedent day, and for a mark of distincti- on, wears a striped silk Handerchief about her Neck, by which we knew who was Queen that day.
We lay here about 5 or 6 days, but did never in all that time see the least sign of any Beef, which was the business we came about: neither were we suffered to go out with the General to see the wild kind, but we wanted for nothing else: However this did not please us, and we often im- portuned him to let us go out among the Cattle. At last he told us, that he had provided a Jar of Rice- drink to be merry with us, and after that we should go with him.
This