NORTHERN OCEAN. ° 
It may appear ftrange, that while I am extoll- 
ing the chaftity of the Northern Indian women, 
I fhould acknowledge that it is a very common 
cuftom among the men of this country to ex- 
change a night’s lodging with each other’s wives. 
But this is fo far from being confidered as an act 
which is criminal, that it is efteemed by them as 
one of the ftrongeft ties of friendfhip between two 
families ; and in cafe of the death of either man, 
the other confiders himfelf bound to fupport the 
children of the deceafed. Thofe people are fo far 
from viewing this engagement as a mere ceremo- 
ny, like moft of our Chriftian god-fathers and 
god-mothers, who, notwithftanding their vows 
are made in the moft folemn manner, and in the 
prefence of both God and man, {fcarcely ever af- 
terward remember what tliecy have promifed, 
that there is not an inftance of a Northern In- 
dian having once neglected the duty which he is 
fuppofed to have taken upon himfelf to perform. 
TheSouthern Indians, with all their bad qualities, 
are remarkably humane and charitable to the wi- 
dows and children of departed friends; and as 
their fituation and manner of life enable them to 
do more aéts of charity with lefs trouble than falls 
to the lot of a Northern Indian, few widows or 
orphans are ever unprovided for among them. 
Though the Northern Indian men make no fcru- 
ple of having two or three fifters for wives at one 
time, yet they are very particular in obferving a 
proper diftance in the confanguinity of thofe they 
K admit 
