( 49 ) 



in default of her, fuch perfon as the family of the 

 deceafed fhall chufe for him. The wife on her pare 

 is under the fame obligation with refpect to the 

 brothers or relations of her hufband, provided he 

 dies without leaving any children by her, and that 

 /he is ftill capable of having any. The reafons 

 they alledge for this, are the fame exprefled in the 

 25th chapter of Deuteronomy. The hufband who 

 Ihould refufe to marry the filter or relation of his 

 departed wife, would thereby expofe himfelf to all 

 the outrages which the perfon he rejects fhall think 

 fit to offer him 5 and which he is obliged to fuffer 

 without murmuring : when for want of fuch per- 

 fon a widow is permitted to provide herfelf in a 

 hufband elfewhere, they are obliged to make her 

 prefents, as a teftimony rendered to her virtuous 

 behaviour ; and which fhe has a right to exact, 

 provided ftie have really obferved a prudent de- 

 portment during the time of her firft marriage. 



Amongft all the Indian nations, there are certain 

 confiderable families, who can only contract alli- 

 ances with each other, and chiefly amongft the Al- 

 gonquins. Generally fpeaking, the perpetuity of 

 marriages is facred in this country, and moft look 

 upon thofe agreements to live together as long as 

 they fhall fee fit, and to feparate when they be- 

 come weary of each other, as being contrary to 

 good order. A hufband who fhould abandon his 

 wife without lawful caufe, muft lay his account 

 with many infults from heir relations ; and a wo- 

 man who fhould leave her hufband without being 

 forced to it by his ill conduct, muft pafs her time 

 ftill worfe. 



Amongft the Miamis, a hufband has a right to 

 cut off the nofe of the wife who elopes from him i 

 V01...O. E bur 



