NORTHERN OCEAN 141 



which by no means does honour to Matonabbee : it is no less 1771. 

 a crime than that of having actually stabbed the husband of ^^' 

 the above-mentioned girl in three places ; and had it not been 

 for timely assistance, would certainly have murdered him, for 

 no other reason than because the poor man had spoken dis- 

 respectfully of him for having taken his wife away by force. 

 The cool deliberation with which Matonabbee committed this 

 bloody action, convinced me it had been a long premeditated 

 design ; for he no sooner heard of the man's arrival, than he 

 opened one of his wives' bundles, and, with the greatest [104] 

 composure, took out a new long box-handled knife, went into 

 the man's tent, and, without any preface whatever, took him by 

 the collar, and began to execute his horrid design. The poor 

 man anticipating his danger, fell on his face, and called for 

 assistance ; but before any could be had he received three 

 wounds in the back. Fortunately for him, they all happened 

 on the shoulder-blade, so that his life was spared. When 

 Matonabbee returned to his tent, after committing this horrid 

 deed, he sat down as composedly as if nothing had happened, 

 called for water to wash his bloody hands and knife, smoked 

 his pipe as usual, seemed to be perfectly at ease, and asked if 

 I did not think he had done right ^ 



It has ever been the custom among those people for the 

 men to wrestle for any woman to whom they are attached ; 

 and, of course, the strongest party always carries off the prize. 

 A weak man, unless he be a good hunter and well-beloved, is 

 seldom permitted to keep a wife that a stronger man thinks 

 worth his notice : for at any time when the wives of those 

 strong wrestlers are heavy-laden either with furrs or provisions, 

 they make no scruple of tearing any other man's wife from 

 his bosom, and making her bear a part of his luggage. This 

 custom prevails throughout all their tribes, and causes a great 

 spirit of emulation among their youth, who are upon all occa- 

 sions, from their childhood, trying their strength and skill 

 in wrestling. This enables them to protect their property, 



