126 
1771. 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
Much does it redound to the honour of the 
‘————’ Northern Indian women when I affirm, that they 
june. 
are the mildeft and moft virtuous females I have 
feen in any part of North America; though fome 
think this is more owing to habit, cuftom, and 
the fear of their hufbands, then from real incli- 
nation. It is undoubtedly well known that none 
can manage a Northern Indian woman fo well asa 
Northern Indian man; and when any of them 
have been permitted to remain at the Fort, they 
have, for the fake of gain, been eafily prevailed 
on to deviate from that charaCter; and afew have, 
by degrees, become as abandoned as the Southern 
Indians, who are remarkable throughout all their 
tribes for being the moft debauched wretches un- 
der the Sun. So far from laying any reftraint 
on their fenfual appetites, as long as youth and 
inclination laft, they give themfelves up to all 
manner of even inceftuous debauchery ; and that 
in fo beaftly a manner when they are intoxicated, 
a ftate to which they are peculiarly addided, that 
the brute creation are not lefs regardlefs of de. 
cency. I know that fome few Europeans, who 
have had little opportunity of feeing them, and of 
enquiring into their manners, have been very 
lavifh in their praife: but every one who has had 
much intercourfe with them, and penetration 
and induftry enough to ftudy their difpofitions, 
will agree, that no accomplifhments whatever 
in aman, is fufficient ta conciliate the affections, 
or 
