398 N A R R A T I V E O F A N 



CHAP, thread after thread, traverllng the warp in the manner 

 XV. ^ j^Qjg jg (Earned in a llockin? ; after which they are 



llained with the juices of trees according to fancy. 



The Indian girls arrive at the time of puberty before 

 twelve years old, indeed commonly much fooncr, at 

 which time they are married; The ceremony conlifts 

 limply in the young man's offering a quantity of game 

 and fifli of his own catching, which, if fhe accepts, he 

 next propofes the queftion, Will you be my wife ?" If 

 llie anfwers in the affirmative, the matter is fettled, and 

 the nuptials celebrated in a drunken feaft, when a houfe 

 and furniture is provided for the young couple. Their 

 v/omen are delivered without any affiftance, and with fo 

 little inconvenience or fuffering, that they feem exempt 

 from the cirrfe of Eve. They go about the menial fer- 

 vices for their hufbands the day after their delivery; 

 then, however ridiculous and incredible it may appear, 

 it is an abfolute fa6t, that every one of thefe gentlemen 

 lie in their hammocks for above a month, groaning and 

 grunting as if they had been themfelves in labour, dur- 

 ing which time all the women muft attend them with 

 extraordinary care and the befl food. This the Indian 

 calls enjoying himfelf, and refting from his labour. 

 Moft of thefe people efteeming a flat forehead a mark of 

 beauty, they comprefs the heads of their children, it is 

 faid, immediately after their birth, like the Chadaw^s of 

 North America. 



No Indian wife eats with her hufband, but ferves him 



as 



