18 CANNIBALISM. 



intelligible to all. In their manners and usages there 

 is also a very close resemblance. Their treatment of 

 their women offers a strong contrast to the custom 

 of all other tribes on the American continent. Instead 

 of making them the drudges of the village, hewers of 

 wood and drawers of water, the men take all the 

 manual labour on themselves. They hew the poles for 

 the lodge ; they draw them from the forest, and erect 

 them. They clear the snow from the encampment; 

 they even bring home the produce of the chase. It is 

 singular that this family should stand in such marked 

 contrast with not only the surrounding tribes, but with 

 all others in America, whether north or south. Every- 

 where else savage man debases woman, and makes her 

 his slave. These Indians are a mild, inoffensive race, 

 lovers of peace, and good hunters. 



Prior to the settlement of whites amongst them, they, 

 in common with the Eskimos, had no ideas of religion. 

 " Ya-ga-ta-that-hee-hee," or "the man that lies along 

 the sky," is their mode of reference to the Deity. 

 Religion, however, is not their strong point ; and they, 

 like all savages, are the dupes of their medicine-men or 

 magicians, to whom they pay great respect. 



Notwithstanding their kind treatment of their 

 women, polygamy is not uncommon among the Slaves 

 and Rabbit-skins. Want of forethought in the sum- 

 mer, when game is plentiful, exposes them in the win- 

 ter to the severest distress. Instances of cannibalism 

 have often occurred, too horrible to be credited, if not 



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