304 The Natural Historg 



diately called to know how she approves of the Man (for as 

 it is reported, they never give their Children in Marriage 

 without their consent) for a Husband; if she approves and 

 is satisfied, the Man pays so much for his Wife, and the 

 handsomer she is, bears the greater price. It sometimes 

 happens that the Man has not Effects enough to pay the Pur- 

 chase for her ; but if he be known to be a good Hunter, that 

 he can raise and pay the Fine agreed upon in so many Moons, 

 or such a limited Time as they propose, she is obliged to go 

 along with him as betrothed, but he is not to have carnal 

 Knowledge of her 'till all the Obligation or Payment is dis- 

 charged. This is punctually observed, and then she is his 

 Wife. 



Thus they live together under one covering for several 

 Months (till the obligation is fulfiU'd) and the Woman re- 

 mains the same as she was when she first came to him, as I 

 have been informed by the Indians themselves. I am per- 

 swaded that there are but few of the Europeans but what 

 wou'd break through these customs, if they had the same 

 opportunities and Liberties allowed them. But the Indians 

 are not so vigorous and impetient in the pursuit of Love, 

 and gratifying their desires as the Europeans are, yet 

 the Women are quite contrary; and those Indian Girls that 

 have frequently conversed with the Europeans, never much 

 care for the conversation of their own Country-men after- 

 wards. They never marry so near as a first Cousin, yet they 

 are allowed to marry two Sisters, or his Brothers Wife ; and 

 although there is nothing more coveted amongst them than 

 to marry a Woman of their own tribe or Nation, which con- 

 sists of very few People, so that they are all of them related 

 to one another, yet they are obliged to look out for Hus- 

 bands and Wives amongst strangers and People of another 

 Nation. If an Indian should lie with his OAvn Sister (and 



that 



