Travels in North America. 125 



Hyei\e to divide with them the Fruit of the Chace, and to defend 

 them againft whoever fhouid undertake to diirurb them. The 

 two Nations lived thus a long Time in a good Underftanding ; 

 but an ill timed Haughtinefs on one Side, and a Refentment, which 

 was not expeded, on the other Side, broke this Union, and 

 made a Quarrel between thefe two People that hath been never 

 reconciled. 



As Winter is the great Seafon for the Chace, and that the 

 Earth, then covered vv^ith Snov/, gives no Employment to them 

 who cultivate it, the two Confederate Nations joined together 

 to winter in the Woods ; but the Iroquois comm^only left the Chace 

 to the Algonq^idns^ and contented themfelves with fleaing the Beails, 

 drying the Flefh, and taking Care of the Skins. This is at prefent 

 every where the V7ork of the Women, perhaps then it was not 

 the Cuilom : However, the Iroquois made no Difficulty of it. From 

 Time to Time, however, feme of them took a Fancy to try 

 themfelves in the Chace, and the Jlgonquins àià wot oppofe it, ia 

 which they were bad Politicians. 



It happened one Winter, that a Troop of both Nations Hopped 

 in a Place where they expe£led Plenty of Game, and fix young 

 'Algonquins, accompanied with as many Iroquois of the fame Age, 

 were detached to begin the Chace. They prefently difcovered 

 fome Elks, and they all prepared themfelves dire£lly to purfue 

 them ; but the Algonquins "NOxAà not {xx^tv Ûit Iroquois to fol- 

 low them, and gave them to underiland that they would have 

 enough to do to flea the Bealls they lliould kill. Unfortunately 

 for thefe Boafters, three Days pafied v/ithout their being able to 

 bring down a fmgle Orignal, though a great Number came in 

 Sight. This bad Succefs mortified them, and probably v/as no 

 Difpleafure to the Iroquois, who earneilly deiired to obtain Leave 

 to go another Way, where they hoped to be more fuccefsful. 

 Their Propofal was received by the Alg07iquins, as was formerly 

 that by the Brothers oï Da^vid, which the young Shepherd made 

 to go and iight with the Giant Goliah: They told them that they 

 were very vain to pretend to have more Skill than the Algon- 

 quins ; it was their Buflnefs to dig the Earth, and that they fhould 

 leave the Chace to thofe that were fit for it. The Iroquois, en- 

 raged at this Anfwer, made no Reply ; but the next Night they 

 departed privately for the Chace. The Algo?iquins were furprifed 

 in the Morning at not feeing them, but their Surprife was foon 

 changed into extreme Vexation ; for in the Evening of the fame 

 Day, they faw the Iroquois returning loaded with the Flelh of 

 Orignals. There are no Men in the World who are more fuf- 

 ceptible of Spite, and who carry the Effeds of it further : 

 The Refult of that of the Alg07tquins was fudden : The Iroquois 

 were no fooner afleep than they were all knocked on the Head, 



Such 



