ought to do, and what to leave undone. At other times, they ridicule
their children for doing wrong, and tell them they are not wise in doing
so.

And one remarkable trait in the character of the children, is, that
they are generally good humoured among themselves, and children of
the same family show strong attachments to each other, and are less
liable to quarrel in their youthful days than is generally the case with
white children.

The father, although he assumes little command over his sons, is
nevertheless anxious to instruct them in the necessary qualifications for
hunting, &c. while the mothers are equally attentive to their daugh-
ters, in teaching them every thing that is considered necessary to their
character and mode of living.

On taking a view of their situation, one would naturally suppose the
life of these women was an uninterrupted scene of toil and pain, which,
indeed, in a great measure, it really is; for, besides attending to the
usual labours of the field, and every culinary service, the duties of ma-
ternal care are added, and require a considerable part of their atten-
tion - the men assuming very little of the parental trust.

Providence seems, in a remarkable manner, to have furnished these
females with strength and fortitude adequate to their situation; for, at
those times when the females of civilized nations require the most ten-
der care and solicitude, these hardy daughters of the forest have little
or no respite from their usual labours.

Their children are frequently born in the woods, where the woman,
accompanied by an elderly female, retires on the occasion, and if in
cold weather a fire is made. The babe is immediately wrapt in a blan-
ket, and generally, in a few hours, the mother returns with it to her
own habitation, and engages in her usual employment, without any ap-
parent injury to her health, or constitution.

In the nursing of their children, a very considerable degree of inge-
nuity is manifested; and for convenience of carrying, as also to keep
the limbs of the young child straight, they confine it with it back to a
board, made for the purpose; and often fancifully decorated with va-
rious trinkets, and embroidery. This board is about two feet and a
half in length, and one in breadth, with a little hoop in front, to protect
the head and face of the child, from which also they suspend a curtain
to cover it from flies or cold. At the bottom is a small foot-board, on
which the child is placed in an erect posture, with its hand down its
sides. It is then swathed with a bandage of cloth, from the feet to the
chin, so tight as to be unable to disengage itself. If the weather is cold,
the skin of some animal, with soft fur on it, is put next to it; and if a
female, a small block is placed between the heels to give the toes an