304 A JOURNEY TO THE 



policy with the women, upon any difference with their hus- 

 bands, to make that an excuse for a temporary separation, 

 when, without any ceremony, they creep out (as is their usual 

 custom on those occasions) under the eves of that side of the 

 tent at which they happen to be sitting ; for at those times 

 they are not permitted to go in or out through the door. 

 This custom is so generally prevalent among the women, that 

 I have frequently known some of the sulky dames leave their 

 husbands and tent for four or five days at a time, and repeat 

 the farce twice or thrice in a month, while the poor men have 

 never suspected the deceit, or if they [314] have, delicacy on 

 their part has not permitted them to enquire into the matter. 

 I have known Matonabbee's handsome wife, who eloped from 

 him in May one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, 

 live thun-nardy, as they call it, (that is, alone,) for several 

 weeks together, under this pretence ; but as a proof he had 

 some suspicion, she was always carefully watched, to pre- 

 vent her from giving her company to any other man. The 

 Southern Indians are also very delicate in this point ; for 

 though they do not force their wives to build a separate tent, 

 they never lie under the same clothes during this period. It 

 is, however, equally true, that the young girls, when those 

 symptoms make their first appearance, generally go a little 

 distance from the other tents for four or five days, and at 

 their return wear a kind of veil or curtain, made of beads, for 

 some time after, as a mark of modesty ; as they are then con- 

 sidered marriageable, and of course are called women, though 

 some at those periods are not more than thirteen, while others 

 at the age of fifteen or sixteen have been reckoned as children, 

 though apparently arrived at nearly their full growth. 



On those occasions a remarkable piece of superstition 

 prevails among them ; women in this situation are never per- 

 mitted to walk on the ice of rivers or lakes, or near the part 

 where the men are hunting beaver, or where a fishing-net is 

 set, for fear of averting their success. They are also pro- 



