of the Ifthmus of America. 3 59 



The Men firft clear the Plantations, an ^^ Yin ^^^ 

 them into order, but the Women have all the an er > 

 Trouble of them afterwards ; the digging, hough- 

 ing, planting, plucking the Maiz, and fetting Yams, 

 and every thing of Husbandry, is left to them, 

 but only the cutting down Trees, or fuch Work 

 that requires greater Strength. The Women alfo 

 have the managing Affairs within Doors, for they 

 are in general the Drudges of the Family efpecK 

 ally the Old Women, for fuch Works as they are 

 able to do, as Cooking, Waihing, and the like. 

 And abroad alfo the Women are to attend their 

 Husbands, and do all their fervile Work, Nay, 

 they are little better than their Pack-horfes, carry- 

 ing all the Luggage of their Houfhold-Utenfils, 

 Viftuals, £5?^ and when they come to the Place 

 where they are to lodge, the Wife dreffes Supper,, 

 while the Man hangs up the Hammocks ; for each 

 of them lies in their own Hammock. 



But notwithftanding the Women are put thus to The Wo- 

 all Manner of Drudgery about the Houfeand Plan- j? en ^ 

 tations, and in travelling abroad, and are little k^KyoiuJ^ 

 ter than Slaves to their Husbands ; yet they do 

 their Work fo readily and chearfully, that it ap- 

 pears to be rather their own Choice than any Ne- 

 ceffity laid upon them. They are in general very Their 

 good conditioned, pitiful and courteous to one ano-g°? dCon * 

 ther, but efpecially to Strangers ; ready to give any dltI0ns > 

 jufl Attendance or Afiiftance they can. They ob- 

 ferve their Husbands with a profound Refpeft and 

 Duty upon all Occafions ; and on the other Side and then 

 their Husbands are very kind and loving to them. Hl «han^ 

 I never knew an Indian beat his Wife, nor give her 

 any hard Words : Nor even in the Quarrels, which 

 they are wont to have in their Cups, do they fhew 

 any Roughnefs towards their Women who attend 

 them, 



A a 4 



Bcfi.de 



