( "3 )] 



LETT E R XXIIL 



Sequel of the Char after of the Indians and of their 

 Manner of living. 



River St. Jofeph, Augujl 8, 172T.- 



Madam, 



IRefume the fequel of my memoirs where I left 

 off. You may perhaps find fault with me for 

 my want of order, but one may at leaft pardon 

 in a relation what is admired in an ode ; that 

 which in a lyric poet is the efFect of art, is the ef- 

 fect of necefllty in a traveller, who can only re- 

 late things in proportion as he is informed of them, 

 and who is obliged to write what is then pafling 

 before his eyes for fear of forgetting it. The 

 children of the Indians after leaving off the ufe of 

 the cradle, are under no fort of confinement, and 

 as foon as they are able to crawl about on hands 

 and feet, are fuffered to go ftark naked where- 

 ever they have a mind, through woods, water, 

 mire and fnow $ which gives them ftrength and 

 agility, and fortifies them againft the injuries of 

 the air and weather *, but this conduct, as I have al- 

 ready remarked, occafions weaknefles in the ftomach 

 and bread, which deflroy their conftitution very 

 early. In the fummer time they run the moment 

 Vol, II. I they 



