,DOWN THE AMAZONS. 



373 



mon among the Indians ; they are not unwilling to give up 

 their children, if they can secure a maintenance for them, 

 and perhaps some advantages of education besides. On the 

 day of departure, the mother and father and two sisters 

 accompanied the child to the steamer, but I think, as the 

 sequel showed, rather for the sake of seeing the ship, and 

 having a day of amusement, than from any sentiment about 

 parting with the child. When the moment of separation 

 came, the mother, with an air of perfect indifference, gave the 

 little boy her hand to kiss. The father seemed to be going 

 off without remembering his son at all ; but the little fellow 

 ran after him, took his hand and kissed it, and then stood 

 crying and broken-hearted on the deck, while the whole 

 family put off in the canoe, talking and laughing gayly, 

 without showing him the least sympathy. Such traits are 

 said to be very characteristic of the Indians. They are 

 cold in their family affections ; and though the motliers are 

 very fond of their babies, they seem comparatively indiffer- 

 ent to them as they grow up. It is, indeed, impossible to 

 rely upon the affection of an Indian, even though isolated 

 cases of remarkable fidelity have been known among them. 

 But I have been told over and over again, by those who 

 have had personal experience in the matter, that you may 

 take an Indian child, bring him up, treat him with every 

 kindness, educate him, clothe him, and find him to be a 

 useful and seemingly faithful member of the household ; one 

 day he is gone, you know not where, and in every proba- 

 bility you will never hear of him again. Theft is not one 

 of their vices. On the contrary, such an Indian, if he 

 deserts the friend who has reared him and taken care of 

 him, is very likely to leave behind him all his clothes, except 

 those he has on, and any presents he may have received. 



