'M Bringier on the Region of the Mississippi, ^c. 



population of two thousand souls, including two small new 

 villages on the head of the Verdegris. They all cultivate 

 Indian corn and pumpkins, in one field common to all and 

 not fenced in; none but the women work in these fields, 

 which are about half an acre for each woman. All their 

 tools consist in one hoe, and a large tomahawk. 



The Osage women are generally very homely, which 

 must be attributed to their hard labour. 



A man may have as many wives as he can obtain ; these 

 mayleave their husband when they please, and the man, on 

 his part, can repudiate his wife, but if she belongs to a fami- 

 ly of consideration, he is liable to have an explanation with 

 the men belonging to it. The Osages have no other law 

 but the law of nature ; the law of the strongest. If they 

 commit a murder, they must submit to the law of retaliation, 

 or redeem themselves with one hundred fathoms of wam- 

 pum beads,* presented to the nearest friends of the mur- 

 dered, who are the only ones who pursue them. The Osa- 

 ges are very faithful. There is no instance of any trader 

 having lost, in consequence of the credit given to then:. 

 When necessity or bad fortune obliges them to postpone 

 their payment to another succeeding hunt, they are always- 

 found to be punctual. They are sober, and never take 

 spirituous liquors. Their wealth consists in horses which 

 they possess in great numbers. 



CheroJcees. 



But what a dreadful contrast is presented by the Chero- 

 kees, who possess all the vices which the Osages have not, 

 and not one of their good qualities. I have witnessed so 

 many infamous acts of these half civilized savages, thai 

 I revolted at the idea of tracing them. Did they not rob 

 three out of four boats with force and arms last year ? Did 

 they not, about the same time, in several instances, murdc! 

 their own friends while drinking with them, and when show- 

 ing no spite a minute before.^ Did they not dismount u 

 number of travellers, and send them on foot when they did 

 not murder them? Can their neighbours keep any horse? 

 or cattle .-* Have they ever paid a cent entrusted to them. 



" Beads made in Canada of clam shell? • 



