104 
17ga 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
sdeliberation with which Matonabbee committed — | . 
=~ this bloody action, convinced me it had beena 
May, 
long premeditated defign; for he no fooner heard 
of the man’s arrival, than he opened one of his 
wives’ bundles, and with the greateft compofure, 
took out a new Jong box-handled knife, went in- 
to the man’s tent, and, without any preface what- 
ever, took him by the collar, and began to exe- 
cute his horrid defign. ‘The poor man anticipat- 
ing his danger, fell on his face, and called for af- 
fiftance ; but before any could be had he receiv- 
ed three wounds in the back. Fortunately for 
him, they all happened on the fhoulder-blade, fo 
that his life was fpared. When Matonabbee re- 
turned to histent, after committing this horrid 
deed, he fat down as compofedly as if nothing had 
happened, called for water to wafh his bloody 
hands and knife, {moked his pipe as ufual, feem- 
ed to be perfectly at eafe, and afked if I did not 
think he had done right ? 
It has ever been hie cuftom among thofe peo- 
ple for the men to wreftle forany womanto whom 
they are attached; and, of courfe, the ftrongeft | 
party always carries off the prize. A weak man, 
unlefs he be a good hunter and well-beloved, is _ 
feldom permitted to keep a wife that a flronger — 
man thinks worth his notice: for at any time 
when the wives of thofe ftrong wreftlers are hea- 
vy-laden either with furrs or provifions, they 
make no fcruple of tearing any other man’s wife 
‘trom his bofom, and making her bear a part of 
his 
