NORTHERN OCEAN 219 



or that it was for want of friends among them, I cannot tell, 1771. 

 but certain it is, that no expedients were taken for her ^^"^^^ 

 recovery ; so that, without much ceremony, she was left 

 unassisted, to perish above-ground. 



Though this was the first instance of the kind I had seen, 

 it is the common, and indeed the constant practice of those 

 Indians ; for when a grown person is so ill, especially in the 

 Summer, as not to be able to walk, and too heavy to be 

 carried, they say it is better to leave one who is past recovery, 

 than for the whole family to sit down by them and starve 

 to death ; well knowing that they cannot be of any service 

 to the afflicted. On those occasions, therefore, the friends or 

 relations of the sick generally leave them some victuals and 

 water ; and, if the situation of the place will afford it, a little 

 firing. When [203] those articles are provided, the person 

 to be left is acquainted with the road which the others intend 

 to go ; and then, after covering them well up with deer skins, 

 &c. they take their leave, and walk away crying. 



Sometimes persons thus left, recover ; and come up with 

 their friends, or wander about till they meet with other 

 Indians, whom they accompany till they again join their 

 relations. Instances of this kind are seldom known. The 

 poor woman above mentioned, however, came up with us 

 three several times, after having been left in the manner 

 described. At length, poor creature ! she dropt behind, 

 and no one attempted to go back in search of her. 



A custom apparently so unnatural is perhaps not to be 

 found among any other of the human race : if properly con- 

 sidered, however, it may with justice be ascribed to necessity 

 and self-preservation, rather than to the want of humanity 

 and social feeling, which ought to be the characteristic of men, 

 as the noblest part of the creation. Necessity, added to 

 national custom, contributes principally to make scenes of this 

 kind less shocking to those people, than they must appear to 

 the more civilized part of mankind. 



