19^ y^^^ Historical Journal of 



A Pliirality of Wives is eftablifhed in many Nations of the 

 Of the Pluralit -^^gonqiiin Language, and it is common enough 

 cfWi^es andiiuf- ^^^^7 Sifters; this Cuftom is found- 



hand7^^ Notion they have, that Sifters will 



agree together better than Strangers. In this 

 Cafe all the Wives are upon an equal Footing ; but among the true 

 Algonquins they have two Sorts of Wives, and the fécond are 

 Slaves to the firft. Some Nations have Wives in all the Places 

 where they ftay any confiderable Time for hunting ; and I have 

 been alTured that this Abufe has been introduced lately among 

 the People of the Huron Language, who in all former Times 

 v/ere fatisfied with one Wife. But in the Iroquois Canton of 

 ^fonnonthouan there prevails a much greater Diforder ftill, which 

 is a Plurality of Hufbands. 



As to what concerns the Degrees of Kindred, with Refpefl to 

 Of the D Marriage, the Hurons and the Iroquois are 



of Kindred ^ ^ fcrupulous in this Matter : Among them 



there muft be no Manner of Relation between 

 the Parties to be married, and even Adoption is comprehended 

 in this Law. But the Huft^and, if his Wife dies firft, muft marry 

 lier Sifter, or in Default of fuch, the Woman which his Wife's 

 Family lliall chufe for him : The Woman, on her Side, is 

 obliged to the fame Thing v/ith Refpe6l to the Brothers, or the 

 Relations of her Huft^and, if he dies without Children, and Ihe 

 is ftill of an Age to have any. The Reafon they give for it, is 

 the fame that is mentioned in the 25th Chapter of Deuteronomy^ 

 verfe 6. The Huftîand who fhould refufe to marry the Sifter, 

 or the Pvclation of the deceafed Wife, would expofe himfelf to 

 the greateft Outrages that the Perfon rejeded can poffibly do 

 him, and would be obliged to fulFer them without Complaint or 

 Refî fiance. When fcr Want of any Relations, they permit a 

 V/idow to provide herfelf another \¥ay, they are obliged to 

 make her Prefents : This is as a Teftimony which they give of 

 her good Condu£l, and which ftie has a Right to demand, 

 if Ihe has really behaved Vv^ell all the Time of her Marriage. 

 There are in all Nations fome confiderable Families, which 

 -r, . T J cannot marry but among; themfelves, -efpe- 

 r- -k/f • 2imoxig Algcnquîîis, In general, the 



Jor Marriages. Stability of Marriages is facred in this Coun^ 

 try, and for the moft Part they coniider as a great Diforder thofe 

 Agreements v/hich fome Ferions make to live together as long 

 as they like, and to feparate when they are tired of each other. 

 A Hufband who ftiould forfake his Wife without a lawful Caufe, 

 muft expecl many Infults from her Relations ; and a Woman 

 who fhould leave her Hufoand without being forced to it by his 

 ill Condudl", would pafs her Time ftill v/orfe. 



Amener 



