A General History of the Fur Trade. 



87 



Though the women are as much in the power of the men, 

 as any other articles of their property, they are always con- 

 sulted, and possess a very considerable influence in the traf- 

 fic with Europeans, and other important concerns. 



Plurality of wives is common among them, and the cere- 

 mony of marriage is of a very simple nature. The girls are 

 betrothed at a very early period to those whom the parents 

 think the best able to support them : nor is the inclination 

 of the woman considered. Whenever a separation takes 

 place, which sometimes happens, it depends entirely on the 

 will and pleasure of the husband. In common with the other 

 Indians of this country, they have a custom respecting the 

 periodical state of a woman, which is rigorously observed : 

 at that time she must seclude herself from society. They 

 are not even allowed in that situation to keep the same path 

 as the men, when travelling : and it is considered a great 

 breach of decency for a woman so circumstanced to touch 

 any utensils of manly occupation. Such a circumstance is 

 supposed to defile them, so that their subsequent use would 

 be followed by certain mischief or misfortune. There are 

 particular skins which the women never touch, as of the 

 bear and wolf; and those animals the men are seldom known 

 to kill. 



They are not remarkable for their activity as hunters, 

 which is owing to the ease with which they snare deer and 

 spear fish : and these occupations are not beyond the strength 

 of their old men, women, and boys : so that they participate 

 in those laborious occupations, which among their neigh- 

 bours are confined to the women. They make war on the 

 Esquimaux, who cannot resist their superior numbers, and 

 put them to death, as it is a principle with them never to 

 make prisoners. At the same time they tamely submit to 

 the Knisteneaux, who are not so numerous as themselves, 

 when they treat them as enemies. 



They do not affect that cold reserve at meeting, either 

 among themselves or strangers, which is common with the 

 Knisteneaux, but communicate mutually, and at once, all 

 the information of which they are possessed. Nor are they 

 roused like them from an apparent torpor to a state of great 

 activity. They are consequently more uniform in this res- 

 pect, though they are of a very persevering disposition when 

 their interest is concerned. 



As these people are not addicted to spirituous liquors, 

 they have a regular and uninterrupted use of their under- 



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