NORTHERN OCEAN 129 



most beautiful among them look old and wrinkled, even 1771. 

 before they are thirty ; and several of the more ordinary ones P" ' 

 at that age are perfect antidotes to love and gallantry. This, 

 however, does not render them less dear and valuable to their 

 owners, which is a lucky circumstance for those women, and 

 a certain proof that there is no such thing as any rule or 

 standard for beauty. Ask a Northern Indian, what is beauty .? 

 he will answer, a broad flat face, small eyes, high cheek-bones, 

 three or four broad black lines a-cross each cheek, a low fore- 

 head, a large broad chin, a clumsy hook-nose, a tawny hide, 

 and breasts hanging down to the belt. Those beauties are 

 greatly heightened, or at least rendered more valuable, when 

 the possessor is capable of dressing all kinds of skins, convert- 

 ing them into the different parts [90] of their clothing, and 

 able to carry eight or ten * stone in Summer, or haul a much 

 greater weight in Winter. These, and other similar accom- 

 plishments, are all that are sought after, or expected, of a 

 Northern Indian woman. As to their temper, it is of little 

 consequence ; for the men have a wonderful facility in making 

 the most stubborn comply with as much alacrity as could 

 possibly be expected from those of the mildest and most oblig- 

 ing turn of mind ; so that the only real difference is, the one 

 obeys through fear, and the other complies cheerfully from a 

 willing mind ; both knowing that what is commanded must 

 be done. They are, in fact, all kept at a great distance, and 

 the rank they hold in the opinion of the men cannot be better 

 expressed or explained, than by observing the method of 

 treating or serving them at meals, which would appear very 

 humiliating, to an European woman, though custom makes it 

 sit light on those whose lot it is to bear it. It is necessary to 

 observe, that when the men kill any large beast, the women 

 are always sent to bring it to the tent : when it is brought 

 there, every operation it undergoes, such as splitting, drying, 

 pounding, &c. is performed by the women. When any thing 



* The stone here meant is fourteen pounds. 



I 



