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“Sometimes the Indians came to church where the Swedes held 
their services, stood quietly for a while watching and listening, and 
then went away. Once when the old man [Gostafsson] was in church 
and did not sing, because he had no hymn book, a lied Man who knew 
him came in and slapped him on the shoulder, saying: ‘Why don’t 
you sing like the rest of them—Tantanta, Tantanta, Tantanta?’ 
Another time, when the services were in Racoon church, an Indian 
came in, stood awhile gazing and listening, and then burst out: ‘Hm! 
much talk and speechmaking, but no brandy or cider,’ whereupon he 
went out again. It is to be noted that whenever any Indian exhorts 
his comrades to war by speech they imbibe freely of spirituous liquors.” 
July 25, 17^9. In Montreal. 
“In domestic affairs the women here are far superior to the 
English, who (to tell the unvarnished truth) have been granted the 
freedom of throwing all household responsibilities upon the men. They 
often sit all day long upon a chair, with folded arms, without moving 
a muscle; while these Canadian women as a rule exert themselves more, 
especially those of the lower classes, and take an active part everywhere 
in the work, in garden, field, and barn, and do not shun physical labor. 
However, when it comes to keeping household utensils and living 
quarters clean, something seems to be lacking. 
“It was a custom in Montreal that a gentleman on the street 
was in duty bound to lift his hat and greet all passersby. This must 
have proved quite annoying to any one whose duties compelled him 
to be outdoors a great deal, and particularly in the evening when all 
the members of every family sat right outside their front door close 
to the street. Another custom was this: if fifty or more people called 
on me a certain day, it was my duty to return all their calls on the fol¬ 
lowing day unless I wished to be considered ill-mannered.” 
In Sweden after returning. 
“I myself came unconsciously near bringing a great misfortune 
upon Europe. At my departure from America I brought with me a 
small package of sweet peas that looked very good and sound. On 
Aug. 1, 1751, some time after I had arrived in Stockholm, I opened 
the package and found all the peas worm-eaten. From a hole in each 
pea an insect was peeking out, and some crawled into the open intend¬ 
ing to try the new climate. I was glad to close the package again 
instantaneously and thus prevent the escape of these destructive 
creatures; and I must confess that when I first opened the package 
and saw those insects I was more frightened than if I had found a 
poisonous snake in it, for I knew what damage might have been wrought 
in my fatherland if but two or three of them had escaped. Many 
coming generations in many places would then have had reason to pass 
condemnation on me for causing so much misfortune.” 
