travels in North Amerka» 21^ 



Age, with plain and natural Food; all this forms Bodies capable 

 of performing and of fufFering incredible Things ; the Excefs of 

 which, as I have already obferved, deftroys many before they 

 arrive at an Age of Maturity. We have feen fome, after their 

 Stomachs were fwelled four Inches, ftill continue eating as hear- 

 tily as if they had juft begun : When they find themfelves over- 

 charged they fmoke, then they fleep, and when they wake the 

 Digeftion is generally perfedled. Sometimes they take an Emetic, 

 after which they begin to eat again. 



In the Southern Countries they have but little Rellraint in 

 ^heir Vices Article of Women ; who, on their Side, 



are very lafcivious. From hence arifes the 

 Corruption of Manners, which for fome Years paft has infedled 

 the Northern Nations. The Iroquois in particular were chafte 

 enough, till they were çonverfant with the Illinois^ and other 

 neighbouring People of Louijlana : They have gained nothing 

 by their Acquaintance with them, but adopting their Vices. It 

 is certain that Effeminacy and Luft were carried in thefe Parts to 

 the greateft Excefs. There were amongft them fome Men who 

 were not alhamed to drefs themfelves like Women, and to fub« 

 mit to all the Employments that belonged to the Women ; from 

 whence there followed a Corruption that cannot be expreiled. 

 Some have pretended, that this Cuilom came from I know not 

 what Principle of Religion : But this Religion, like many 

 others, has taken its Rife from the Depravation of the Heart ; 

 or if this Cuftom took its Rife from the Spirit, it ended in the 

 Flelh. Thefe effeminate Perfons never marry, and abandon 

 themfelves to the moil infamous Paffions 5 they are alfo treated 

 with the greateft Contempt. 



On the other Hand, though the Women are llrong and luily, 

 Wh the County ^^^7 ^^'^ ""^î'^i^^^î- Befides the Reafons Î 

 is not bette teotled ^^^^ already mentioned, that is to fay y the 

 f rpp. Time they take to fuckle their Children, 



their Cuftom of Continence all this Time, and the exceffive La- 

 bours they are obliged to undergo, in whatfoever Condition they 

 find themfelves, this Barrennefs proceeds alfo from the Cuftom 

 cftablifhed in many Places, which permits young Women to pro- 

 ftitute themfelves before they are married ; add to this, the ex- 

 treme Neceffity to which thefe People are often reduced, and which 

 takes away their Deftre of having Children, 



For the reft, it is certain, that they have great Advantages over 

 TheAd'vanta es ^ ^ conftder, as the chief of all, the 

 the ^ha've^o^jer us P^^f^<^i^efs of their Senfes, either internal or 

 ^•^ ^' external. In Spite of the Snow, which 



dazzles their Eyes, and the Smoke, which almoft fmothers them 

 for fix Months 'in the Year, their Sight nevçr decays : Their 



