200 An Hîjîorical Journal of 



themfeîves near their Time, they make a little Fîut without 

 the Village, and they remain there forty Days after they are 

 delivered. But I think I have heard fay that this is only done 

 for the firfl Child. 



This Time being expired, they extinguilh all the Fires of the 

 Cabin to which fhe is to return ; they lhake all the Clothes, 

 and at her Return they light a new Fire : They obferve pretty 

 nearly the fame Formalities with Regard to all Perfons of the 

 Sex in the Time of their Terms, and not only whilft thefe lail, 

 but alfo whilft a Woman is with Child, or gives Suck, (and 

 they commonly fuckle their Children three Years) the Hufband 

 never approaches them. Nothing would be more Fraife- worthy 

 than this Cuftom, if both Parties preferved the Fidelity they 

 owe to each other ; but there is often a Failure on one Side or 

 other. Such is the Corruption of the human Heart, that the 

 wifeil Regulations often produce the greatell Diforders. It is 

 even faid, that the Ufe of fome Simples, which have the Power 

 to prevent the Confequences of the Women's Infidelity, is pret- 

 ty common in this Country. 



Nothing can exceed the Care which the Mothers take of their 



9"' Care the Mo ^^^^^^^^ while they are in the Cradle ; but 

 I e are e o- ^^^^ ^^^^ .^^ ^j^^ leave them 



rri!f entirely to themfelves ; not through Want of 



LhiLdren. AfFedion or Indifference, for they never lofe 



the Tendernefs they have for them, but with their Lives ; but 

 becaufe they are perfuaded it is befl: to leave Nature to herfelf, 

 without any Reftraint. The hà. which terminates the firft Stage 

 of Infancy, is giving a Name, which among thefe People is aa 

 Affair of Importance. 



This Ceremony is performed in a Feall, where no Perfons are 

 . 7 • prefent but of the fame Sex with the Child 



{Jf nammguetr named. While they are eating 



Lhiidren. ^y^^ ^^.^ ^^^^ ^j^^ j^^^^^ ^i^^ Y2X\\QV 



or Mother, who continually recommend it to the Spirits, efpe- 

 cially to that Vv'hich is to be its Guardian Genius ; for every 

 Perfon has their own, but not at their Birth. They never make 

 new Names, each Family has a certain Number, which they 

 take by Turns. Sometimes alfo they change their Names as 

 they grow up, and there are fome Names which they cannot go 

 by after a certain Age ; but I do not think this is the Cuftom 

 every where : And as among fome People in taking a Name 

 they take the Place of the Perfon that bore it lail, it fometimes 

 happens that a Child is called Grandfather, and treated as fuch 

 by one who might really be fo to i;he Child. 



^ ' They 



