travels in North America. i^j 



Among the Miamis, the Hufband has a Right to cut ofF his 

 Wife's Nofe if fhe runs away from him ; but among the Iroquois 

 and the Hurons they may part by Confent. This is done without 

 Noife, and the Parties thus feparated may marry again. Thefe 

 Savages cannot even conceive that there can be any Crime 

 in this. My Wife and I cannot agree together," faid one of 

 them to a Miffionary, who endeavoured to make him compre- 

 hend the Indecency of fuch a Separation, ^' my Neighbour's 



Cafe was the fame, we changed V/ives, and we are all four 



happy : What could be more reafonable than to make us 

 " mutually happy, when it is fo cheaply done, without wrong- 



ing any Body.'* Neverthelefs, this Cuftoni, as I have already 

 obferved, is looked upon as an Abufe, and is not antient, at 

 lead among the Iroquois. 



What moft commonly diflurbs domeflic Peace among the 



1 r ^ People of Canada, is Jealoufy, which is equal 

 Jealoujy of the ^^^^ g.^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^^^ j^^^^ ^j^^^ ^j^^^ 



bagages. never troubled with it ; but thofe who 



are moil acquainted with them, affirm, that they are jealous to 

 Excefs. When a Woman has difcovered that her Hulband has 

 a Miftrefs, her Rival ought to be w^ell on her Guard, inafmuch 

 as the unfaithful Hulband cannot defend her, nor in any Manner 

 take her Part. A Man who fhould ufe his V/ife ill on this Ac- 

 count, would be difgraced. 



Treaties of Marriage are entirely carried on by the Parents : 

 ^ y The Parties intereflied do not appear at all, 



Ho^ tr:ey treat ^.^^ themfelves up entirely to the Will 



cj- yiarriagcs, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ depend. But is it not 



Matter of Surprife in the Whimficalnefs of thefe Savages, who 

 do not make themfelves dependent on their Parents but in that 

 Matter only, where there is the moilReafon to ufe their own Choice, 

 Kowever, the Parents do not conc|mie any Thing without their 

 Confent ; but this is only a Formality. The iirft Advances muft 

 be made by the Matrons, but there are feldom any m.ade on the 

 Woman's Side : Not but if any Girl was to continue too long 

 without being fued for, her Family \yould ad under-hand to find 

 her a Suitor ; but this is done with a great deal of Precaution. la 

 fome Places the Women are not in Hafle to be married, be- 

 caufe they are allowed to make what Trials of it they pleafe, 

 and the Ceremony of Marriage only changes their Condition for 

 the worfe. 



In general, there is obferved a great deal of Modefly in the 

 Behaviour of the young People whiîd they treat of their Mar- 

 riage ; and they fay that it was quite othervvife in the antient 

 Time. But what is almoft incredible, and which is neverthelefs 

 attelted by good Authors, is, that in many Places the new mar- 

 ried 



