CRUELTY. INFANTICIDE. 521 



the Tinne language* contains no word to express "dear" or 

 " beloved." It is only fair to add that Kane found the Cree 

 Indians swearing in French, having no oaths in their own 

 language.^ Mr. Schoolcraft records, as an indication that they 

 are in reality of affectionate disposition, that he " once saw a 

 Fox Indian on the banks of the Mississippi, near whose wig- 

 wam I had, unnoticed to him, wandered, take up his male 

 infant in his arms, and several times kiss it."J The special 

 mention of this fact conveys a different impression from that 

 which was intended. Nevertheless, among the better tribes 

 many no doubt are capable of feeling strong affection, and 

 there are even cases on record in which the father has re- 

 deemed his son from the stake, and actually been burnt in 

 his stead. 



Partly no doubt from the hatred produced by almost in- 

 cessant wars, partly perhaps encouraged by the stoical dis- 

 regard of pain which it was their pride to affect, the North 

 American Indians were very cruel to captives taken in war. 

 Scalping seems to have been an universal practice, and it is 

 even said that the Sioux sometimes ate the hearts of their 

 enemies, every one of the war- party getting a mouthful, if 

 possible. 



Infanticide was common in the north, but does not seem to 

 have prevailed among the southern tribes to any great extent; 

 and until the advent of Europeans they do not appear to 

 have had any fermented liquors. The Sioux, Assiuiboines, 

 and other tribes on the Missouri, are said to have habitually 

 abandoned those who from age or infirmities were unable to 

 follow the hunting-camps. The same was frequently the case 

 among the northern tribes. 



Copper is found native in the northern districts, and even 

 before the advent of the Europeans was used for hatchets 



* Richardson's Arctic Expedi- t 1. c. p. 339. 



tion, vol. ii. p. 24. % 1. c. vol. iii. p. 64. 



