NORTHERN OCEAN. 
the fofter endearments of a conjugal life are only 
confidered as a fecondary object, there feems to 
be great propriety in fuch a choice; but if all the 
men were of this way of thinking, what would 
become of the greater part of the women, who in 
general are but of low ftature, and many of them 
of a moft delicate make, though not of the ex- 
acteft proportion, or moft beautiful mould? Take 
them in a body, the women are as deftitute of 
| real beauty as any nation I ever faw, though there 
are fome few of them, when young, who are to- 
lerable ; but the care of a family, added to their 
conftant hard labour, foon make the moft beau- 
tiful among them look old and wrinkled, even 
before they are thirty; and feveral of the more 
love and gallantry. This, however, does not ren- 
der them lefs dear and valuable to their owners, 
| which is a lucky circumftance for thofe women, 
and a certain proof that there is no fuch thing 
as any rule or ftandard for beauty. Afk a Nor- 
thern Indian, what is beauty? he will anfwer, a 
broad flat face, {mall eyes, high cheek-bones, three 
or four broad black lines a-crofs each cheek, a low 
forehead, a large broad chin, a clumfy hook-nofe, 
ja tawny. hide, and brea{ts hanging down to the 
belt. Thofe beauties are greatly heightened, or 
at leaft rendered more valuable, when the poffef- 
for is Teh of dreffing all kinds of fkins, con- 
verting 
ordinary ones at that age are perfect antidotes to - 
Apiik 
89 
Inidcountry like this, where a partner in exceflive 1771. 
hard labour is the chief motive for the union, and “~~ 
