Travels in North America. 27^^ 



which our Canadians hy Corruption call Kiakiki* Theak fignifies 

 a Wolf, I forget in what Language ; but this River is fo call'd, 

 becaufe the Mahlngans, which are alfo called the Wohesy formerly 

 took Refuge here. 



We put our Canoe, which was brought hither by two Men, into 

 the fécond of thefe Springs, or Pools, and we embarked ; but we 

 found fcarce Water enough to keep it afloat : Ten Men, in tv/o 

 Days, might make a lirait and navigable Canal, whichwould fave 

 much Trouble, and ten or twelve Leagues Way ; for the River, 

 at the firft coming out from its Spring, is fo narrow, and, we are 

 continually obliged to turn fo Ihort, that every Moment one is 

 in Danger of breaking the Canoe, as it has juflnow happened to 



us. But let us return to the Savages ; and after having 



feen in v/hat Manner they are treated in their Diftempers, let us 

 fee them die, and what paiTes after their Death. 



In general, when they think themfelves pall Retovery, they 

 What taTes at ^^^^ their Fate with à Refolution truly Jïoicaly 

 ; jS^ f^Jjf^ ^ and they often fee their Days fhortened by the 

 the Death of a àa- -p-^^ç^^^^ ^^^^ ^^.^ ^^r^ ^^âr to theiln, without 



fhewing the leaft Chagrin. The Declaration 

 of the Sentence of the Doélor is fcarcely finifhed to a dying 

 Man, before he makes an Effort to harangue thofe that are about 

 him. If it is the Chief of a Family, he firil makes his Funeral 

 Oration, which he finiihes by giving very good Counfel to his 

 Children. After this, he takes Leave of every Body, gives 

 Orders for a Feaft, in which they mud ufe all the Froviiions that 

 remain in the Cabin, and then he receives the Prefents of his 

 Family. 



During this Time they cut the Throats of all the Dogs they 

 can catch, that the Souls of thefe Animals may go into the 

 other World, and give Notice that fuch a. Perfon will arrive 

 there foon ; and all the Bodies are put into the Kettle, to en- 

 large the Feaft. After the Feaft is over, they begin to weep : 

 Their Tears are interrupted to bid the laïl: Farewel to the dying 

 Perfon, to wifh him a good Journey, to comfort him oh his being 

 feparated from his Relations and Friends, and to aillire him that 

 his Children will maintain all the Glory he has acquired. 



Wemuft acknowledge. Madam, that the Calmnefs with which 

 thefe People look Death in the Face, has fomething in it very 

 admirable; and this is fo univerfal, that perhaps there never 

 was an Inilance of a Savage fhewing any Concern ^upon hearbg 

 that he had but a few Hours to live. The fame Principle, ai d 

 the fame Spirit, prevails every Vs'here, though the Cuftoms vajy 

 much in all that I have juil mentioned, according to the différer t 

 Nations. In moll Places there are Dances, Songs, Invocations, 

 and Fealls ordered by the Doctors, which are almoft always Re- 



N n ' medieg 



