134 EXPEDITION TO THE 



by no means to be considered as applicable lo all ; and 

 we know it to be incorrect as respects the Potawato- 

 mis. All travellers concur in representing them as very 

 proud of the number of their children. Where the mild 

 and humane provisions of the Christian faith do not pre- 

 vail, children form almost the only link which binds man 

 to woman for life. It is the only obstacle to that constant 

 repudiation of wives which occurred previous to the Chris- 

 tian dispensation ; hence, independent of the moral turpi- 

 tude of the deed, it would be the height of impolicy in a 

 woman to impair the strongest claim which she has upon 

 her husband's affections ; besides these considerations, the 

 Potawatomi woman is prevented from attempting infanti- 

 cide from the fear which she entertains that abortion would 

 be followed by the death of the parent. 



Askabunkese, one of the most celebrated physicians 

 among the Potawatomis, being asked whether chlorosis 

 was known to them, said that he did not know it ; the wo- 

 men were too modest to inform the men, and would knock 

 him down with a stick if he were to inquire of them. 



Among the Potawatomi, the practice of medicine is con- 

 sidered quite distinct from that of jugglery. Both are in great 

 repute, but it appears that there is no interference. The 

 man of medicine has, it is true, recourse to spells and in- 

 cantations to add to the virtue of the plants which he uses; 

 but this is totally unconnected with the avocations of the 

 sorcerer and juggler, whose object is amusement, and who 

 are resorted to for the recovery of lost articles, or to answer 

 questions about persons and things at a distance, for which 

 they sometimes get pay from the more ignorant, but they 

 are soon detected in their clumsy arts. The sorcerers arc 

 treated with much respect, being held in great awe ; they 

 generally perform their tricks in the, twilight, or during 



