On the peopling of America. 213 



We know that women among the American Indians, are 

 forced to perform all the hard labour that is necessary to the 

 support of a family. The husband smokes his pipe, or sleeps in 

 his cabin, while his wife hoes the corn, with a child at her back. 

 By this mark of apathy, or nnkindness to his female, the Ame- 

 rican savage is supposed to be distinguished from other men. 

 " Marriage itself, instead of being an union of affection and in- 

 terest between equrds, becomes among them the unnatural con- 

 junction of a master with his slave*." The author of this re- 

 r.iark was not unacquainted with the manners of rude nations in 

 the old continent ; and if he had sought for a satisfactory proof, 

 that men are all of the same family, and that the disposition is 

 not changed bv an extraordinary change of climate, he would 

 Itave found such a proof in the conduct of the American savage 

 to his female. 



There is no living creature on the old continent, bird or beast, 

 that is so much distinguished as man, in his uncultivated state, 

 by the want of kindness to his female companion. The male 

 bird is most assiduous in helping his mate to feed their young. 

 Some males among the beasts, when their assistance is not 

 wanted, neglect their female; but none of them adds to her 

 trouble, or treats her with cruelty. Man alone is distinguished 

 by the want of kindness, and by cruelty to his female. Perhaps 

 Russia may be the only country in which tiie tyranny of a hus- 

 band is reduced to a system, and avowed in the marriage cere- 

 mony; but Russia is not t!ie only part of the old continent in 

 which the wife is a slave to her husband. The Arabian does 

 )!ot suffer his wife to eat with him ; he v,ouId, as he conceives, 

 be degraded bvher company; but he compels her to bring wood 

 and water, to dress his victuals, and to perform every other me- 

 nial service. His sons are taught to despise their mother. She 

 is not suffered to eat with them after they are eight or ten years 

 old. In that ancient nation, we see the character of men, who 

 are not perfectly civilized, as it may be traced through all shades 

 and colours, in the old continent, or the islands connected with 

 it. In many of the nations in Europe, v.-ho presume to call other 

 men savages, the weak and humble wife conthuies to suffer un- 

 der the ciiastisement of a master. We have reason to believe 

 that man is the greatest tyrant upon earth. His strength is the 

 measure of his conduct. The little despot in his family, and the 

 great despot on his throne, exhibit the sam.e character. Those 

 who are weaker may expect to smart beneath tlie arm of power. 

 Women are indebted to civilization alone for the happiness they 

 enjoy, in some parts of the world. And their situation, in every 



* Roberlson's History of Aim rica. 



O 3 part. 



