CHARACTER. 417 



moral right to take the wife of any man weaker than he is. 

 In fact, the men fight for the possession of the women, just 

 like stags and the males of other wild beasts. 



" Imperturbability,* in all situations, is one of the most 

 striking and general traits of the Indian character. To still 

 his muscles to resist the expression of all emotion, seems to 

 be the point of attainment ; and this is particularly observed 

 on public occasions. Neither fear nor joy are permitted to 

 break this trained equanimity." Even among relations "it is 

 not customary to indulge in warm greetings. The pride and 

 stoicism of the hunter and warrior forbid it. The pride of 

 the wife, who has been made the creature of rough en- 

 durance, also forbids it." 



But perhaps the most remarkable evidence of this is the 

 fact that the Algonquin language, although one of the 

 richest, contained no word for "to love," and when Elliot 

 translated the Bible for them in 1661, he was obliged to 

 coin one. He introduced the word " womon " to supply the 

 want. Again, the Tinne language f contains no word to 

 express "dear" or "beloved." It is only fair to add that 

 Kane found the Cree Indians swearing in French, having no 

 oaths in their own language. J Mr. Schoolcraft records, 

 as an indication that they are in reality of affectionate 

 disposition, that he " once saw a Fox Indian on the banks 

 of the Mississippi, near whose wigwam I had, unnoticed to 

 him, wandered, take up his male infant in his arms, and 

 several times kiss it." The special mention of this fact 

 conveys a different impression from that which was intended. 

 Nevertheless, among the better tribes many no doubt are 

 capable of feeling strong affection, and there are even cases 

 on record in which the father has redeemed his son from the 

 stake, and actually been burnt in his stead. 



* Schoolcraft, vol. iii., p. 58. f Richardson's Arctic Expedition, vol. ii., p. 24. 

 J I.e. p. 339. I.e. vol. iii., p. 64. 



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