| Citation |
NYP-F.779.023
18 Nov 1779:23 (152)
Amongst all the diversions of the Indians, that of their
masks is perhaps the most extraordinary. The figures which
appear at these entertainments, afford a great variety of
characters, from some strikingly handsome, to others
horrible beyond description; the latter kind of masks are
called Meeneto's, by which they mean devils, and the wearers
are said to act up to the character fully; not unlike the
poor devils at an English masquerade, who perhaps only want
to play the devil with the ladies, and who make as silly and
ridiculous appearance there, as their first minister does in
the present war: Whereas, one of their dear Indian
confederates, in this character, plays the devil indeed,
though in jest, rends, tears, overturns, and destroys every
thing in his way, and clears all before him; no doubt, those
who understand the humour of the game, give proper place to
his infernal majesty, or, if overset and wounded by him,
bury their misfortunes in their admiration of the dexterity
and prowess of the actor. Several masks of both sorts have
been brought down by our northern army, who found them,
together with pots boiling on the fire, in houses which had
been just deserted by the allies of his Britannic majesty. .
. [36 lines drawing on this analogy]
When Phaeton, that simple sot,
His earth-born lineage had forgot,
He needs must drive Appollo's chariot,
To show hereditary merit.
. . . [12 lines]
Bards sung and ideots swore he rose,
Superior to a world of foes;
. . . [9 more lines, signed] S. D.
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