[ 3§5 ] 
early in marriage, frequently feveral years before 
confummation ; and the reafon of this is, becaufe 
the girl’s father, by that means, has one lefs in 
family to provide for. 
The Efquimeaux men are extremely indolent ; 
and the women are the greatefl drudges upon the 
face of the earth. They do every thing except pro- 
cure food, and even in that they are frequently 
affiftants; fo that they are at continual labour. They 
few with the finews of deer, and their needle-work 
is amazingly neat. 
Their language is the fame as the Greenlanders. 
It is not altogether devoid of harmony, and the 
women have very delicate voices. 
Thefe Indians are Grangers to jealoufy ; they do 
not appear to be at all quarrelfome, and they very 
feldom fteal from one another. They do not feem 
very paffionate ; but woe be to the woman that 
offends her hufband. 
If polygamy was not allowed among them, their 
numbers would be very few. Some of the women 
bear many children ; but, in general, they are by 
no means fruitful. The wives live happily together j 
and, if deferving, fhare equally in their hufband’s 
favours. 
They have but few difeafes among them, and 
confequently are without phyficians ; they believe, that 
tying to their neck or wrifts the particular part of 
fome fifh or animal, according to the complaint, will 
produce a cure. The mod: dreadful malady upon 
earth, has not as yet reached them : nor have they 
ever been vifited by the fmall pox. 
Vol. LXIV. 
Ddd 
Thefe 
