A Leneral History of the Fur Trade, 6f 



to the very cold and keen air which they inhale ; but I should 

 imagine that these complaints must frequently proceed from 

 their immoderate indulgence in fat meat at their feasts, 

 particularly when they have been preceded by long fasting. 



They are naturally mild and affable, as well as just in 

 their dealings, not only among themselves, but with stran- 

 gers.* They are also generous and hospitable, and good- 

 natured in the extreme, except when their nature is per- 

 verted by the inflammatory influence of spirituous liquors. 

 To their children they are indulgent to a fault. The father, 

 though he assumes no command over them, is ever anxious 

 to instruct them in all the preparatory qualifications for war 

 and hunting; while the mother is equally attentive to her 

 daughters in teaching them every thing that is considered as 

 necessary to their character and situation. It does not ap- 

 pear that the husband makes any distinction between the 

 children of his wife*, though they may be the offspring of 

 different fathers. Illegitimacy is only attached to those who 

 are born before their mothers have cohabited with any man 

 by the title of husband. 



It does not appear, that chastity is considered by them as 

 a virtue ; or that fidelity is believed to be essential to the 

 happiness of wedded life. Though it sometimes happens 

 that the infidelity of a wife is punished by the husband with 

 the loss of her hair, nose, and perhaps life ; such severity 

 proceeds from its having been practised without his per- 

 mission: for a temporary interchange of wives is not un- 

 common; and the offer of their persons is considered as a 

 necessary part of the hospitality due to strangers. 



When a man loses his wife, it is considered as a duty to 

 marry her sister, if she has one ; or he may, if he pleases, 

 have them both at the same time. 



It will appear from the fatal consequences I have repeat- 

 edly imputed to the use of spirituous liquors, that I more 

 particularly consider these people as having been, morally 

 speaking, great sufferers from their communication with the 

 subjects of civilized nations. At the same time they were 

 not, in a state of nature, without their vices, and some of 

 them of a kind which is the most abhorrent to cultivated and 

 reflecting man. I shall only observe, that incest and beasti* 

 ality are among them. 



* They have been called thieves, but when that vice can with justice be 

 Attributed to them, it may be traced to their connection with the civilized 

 people who come into their country to traffic, 



