54 J\PKeevor's Voyage to Hudson's Bay. 



Leara'd from the heart, unknowing of disguise ; 

 Trulh in her thoughts, and candour in her eyes ; 

 Stranger alike to envy and to pride, 

 Good sense her light, and nature all her guide ; 

 But now remov'd from all the ills of life, 

 Here rests the pleasing friend and faithful wife ! 



\\ ALLKH. 



. . '' ; 



The speed and facility with which the Indian women pass 

 through the most interesting period of female suffering 1 , has 

 long- been a matter of observation, and of surprise. A very 

 remarkable instance of this occurred during my stay at York 

 Fort, which I shall here take the liberty to mention. Mrs. 

 B., an Indian lady, wife of one of the inland governors, was 

 occupied the entire day about her tent. I entered her tent at 

 three o'clock in the afternoon ; she was then preparing dinner, 

 which consisted of boiled venison, venison-soap, and English 

 biscuit ; she was at that time quite cheerful, and in remark- 

 ably good spirits. About six o'clock in the evening she was 

 seized with W>our-pains, when she retired to an apartment in 

 the governor is house, in company with an elderly Indian wo- 

 man ; about half-past six she was delivered of a fine boy ; and 

 a Ijttle after seven of the same evening, I saw her walking 

 about the factory. The young infant immediately born was 

 washed with cold-water, and afterwards wrapped up in a 

 young beaver-skin and placed in its cradle, which is made as 

 follows : They take a plain piece of board, about three feet 

 Idng- and one and a half in breadth; to either side of this they 

 make fast a portion of cloth or ticking, which they procure 

 from the Europeans ; this they adorn with beads and quill- 

 work, in a very tasty and beautiful manner. Under this outer 

 covering, which is made to lace up the front, they place a fine 

 English blanket, folded in a circular form, and inside of this 

 they place a layer of very fine moss, for the purpose of absorb- 

 ing the discharges of the child ; when soiled it is immediately 

 renewed. To each corner of the flat piece of board a string- 

 is attached, which terminates in a loop : by these they are sus- 

 pended from the side of the tent, so as not to prevent them 

 attending to their work. To one end of the board a broad 

 worsted belt is made fast; when travelling this is passed round 

 the forehead, while the cradle hangs behind. The face of the 

 child is all that is seen, the arms and feet being confined under 

 the cloths and bandages which are wrapped round it. In 

 summer a piece of gauze is thrown over the young savage, to 

 keep off the musquitos, which are at this season very trouble- 

 some. Shortly after the child was born it was given the breast; 

 I could not help admiring the tender and affectionate looks 



