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