NORTHERN OCEAN. 93 
his is in fome meafure owing to delicacy, but 1771. 
more probably to an opinion they entertain that Ure 
‘nature is abundantly fufficient to perform every 4?" 
| hing required, without any external help what- 
ever. WhenlI informed them of the afliftance 
which European women derive from the fkill and 
attention of our midwives, they treated it with 
he utmoft contempt; ironically obferving, “that 
KF the many hump-backs, bandy-legs, and other 
| ‘deformities, fo frequent among the Englifh, 
F§ were undoubtedly owing to the great {kill of 
\s the perfons who affifted in bringing them into 
{/©the world, and to the extraordinary care of 
¢ their nurfes afterward.” i 
A Northern Indian woman after child-birth is 
reckoned unclean for a month or five weeks ;_ 
‘uring which time fhe always remains in 4 {mall 
jent placed at a little diflance from the others, 
With only a female acquaintance or two; and dur- 
ng the whole time the father never fees the child. 
)(heir reafon for this practice is, that children 
vhen firft born are fometimes not very fightly, 
having in general large heads, and but little hair, 
| \ndare, moreover, often difcoloured by the force 
of the labour; fo that were the father to fee them 
‘jo fuch great difadvantage, he might probably 
Jake a diflike to them, which never afterward 
) jould be removed. 
| The names of the children are always given to 
hem by the parents, or fome perfon near of kin. 
_ vhofe of the boys are various, and generally de- 
| | a rived 
