312 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
confinement fit light and eafy even on children, 
whofe tender ages feem better adopted to inno- 
cent and cheerful amufements, than to be coop- | 
edup by the fide of old women, and conftantly | 
employed in fcraping fkins, mending fhoes, and | 
learning other domeftic duties neceflary in the 
care of a family. 
Notwithftanding thofe uncommon reftraints — 
on the young girls, the conduét of their parents is 
by no means uniform or confiftent with this — 
plan; as they fet no bounds to their converfati- | 
on, but talk before them, and evento them, on 
the moft indelicate fubjects. As their ears are 
accuitomed to fuch language from their earlieft 
youth, this has by no means the fame effect-on 
them, it would have on girls born and educated. 
ina civilized country, where every care is taken. 
to prevent their morals trom’ being contaminated 
by obfcene converfation. ‘The Southern Indians 
are itill lefs delicate in converfation, in the pre-. 
fence of their children. 
The women among the Northern Indians are 
in general more backward than the Southern. 
Indian women; and though it is well known: 
that neither tribe lofe any time, thofe. early 
connections are feldom produttive of children for 
fome years. 
Divorces are pretty common among the Nor-. 
thern Indians; fometimes for incontinency, but 
more frequently for want of what they deem’ 
neceflary accomplifhments, or for bad behaviour. . 
3 This 
