Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Characters, Customs, And Manners , Of The Savages Of Cape Breton.
wait , in places frequented by unexperienced young people ; and counterfeiting the cries of animals , they impose upon the simplicity of their enemies , so as to overpower them by open force , or by cunning . Formerly their wars were never ended but b " y the total destruction of the conquered party . True it is , that we have made some alteration in their manner of fighting , which was not perhaps the worst in the world ; bit still they are far from following ours .
The real service we have done them , is to inspire them with horrour against the barbarities they used to commit against a conquered enemy ; barbarities which , though invented to remove unjust quarrels , did but perpetuate their animosities and hatred . We havz likewise cured them of the folly- of divination , and rescued them from the terrible subjection they were under to the
malice and knavery of their jugglers . I know not whether they have obligation to us for the changes we have effected in their manners . I am apt to think that their customs were as good as ours , and better suited to their own ideas . The Savages , though naturally very amorous , were accustomed , howeverto enter into marriage in such a manneras to
re-, , conciie their pleasure to their interest . As soon as the parents had determined that a youth was of proper age to marry , they settled the matter among themselves , and spoke in the following manner to him : ' Go , now , and light thy pipe , day and night , in the cottage of thy intended father-in-law ; be careful that the smoke of it goes towards her who is intended to be thy spouse ; and be sure to act in such a
manner , that she shall take a pleasure in this fumigation , and desire thee to let her raise it herself . Shew thyself worthy of our nation ; do honour to thy sex and to thy youth , by providing that none , belonging to the cottage thou art going to , shall want either for necessaries or conveniencies . But particularly be sure to exert thy whole attention in the service of her who is to be one day thy companion ; let thy bow and arrows be employed in finding provisions for her
, with the necessary quantity of ore and furs . Four winters are allowed thee to make a trial of thy fidelity and resolution . ' The young man , without making any answer to this speech , betook himself to the appointed cottage . His mistress , being apprized of his intentions , lent him a favourable ear , at first from civility ; and then , if he proved agreeable to her , she signified her mind to him , by asking for
his pipe , of which she made no other use than by puffing the smoke into his nostrils . This agreeable declaration would sometimes cause the lover to fall quite sick to the ground : still it was a declaration of love ; and in whatever manner he is informed that his passion meets with a return , it must be attended with pleasure . On the part of the bride this was not allshe would tie the hair of her belovedand
; up , dye his face with colours most pleasing to her own , fancy . On ' this occasion she would display that skill , in which the Indian women excel , of pricking such marks in the skin of her lover , as are relative to their amours ; and would suit her fancy in chusing that part of his body which seemed the best adapted to do honour to her own ingenuity . ' . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Characters, Customs, And Manners , Of The Savages Of Cape Breton.
wait , in places frequented by unexperienced young people ; and counterfeiting the cries of animals , they impose upon the simplicity of their enemies , so as to overpower them by open force , or by cunning . Formerly their wars were never ended but b " y the total destruction of the conquered party . True it is , that we have made some alteration in their manner of fighting , which was not perhaps the worst in the world ; bit still they are far from following ours .
The real service we have done them , is to inspire them with horrour against the barbarities they used to commit against a conquered enemy ; barbarities which , though invented to remove unjust quarrels , did but perpetuate their animosities and hatred . We havz likewise cured them of the folly- of divination , and rescued them from the terrible subjection they were under to the
malice and knavery of their jugglers . I know not whether they have obligation to us for the changes we have effected in their manners . I am apt to think that their customs were as good as ours , and better suited to their own ideas . The Savages , though naturally very amorous , were accustomed , howeverto enter into marriage in such a manneras to
re-, , conciie their pleasure to their interest . As soon as the parents had determined that a youth was of proper age to marry , they settled the matter among themselves , and spoke in the following manner to him : ' Go , now , and light thy pipe , day and night , in the cottage of thy intended father-in-law ; be careful that the smoke of it goes towards her who is intended to be thy spouse ; and be sure to act in such a
manner , that she shall take a pleasure in this fumigation , and desire thee to let her raise it herself . Shew thyself worthy of our nation ; do honour to thy sex and to thy youth , by providing that none , belonging to the cottage thou art going to , shall want either for necessaries or conveniencies . But particularly be sure to exert thy whole attention in the service of her who is to be one day thy companion ; let thy bow and arrows be employed in finding provisions for her
, with the necessary quantity of ore and furs . Four winters are allowed thee to make a trial of thy fidelity and resolution . ' The young man , without making any answer to this speech , betook himself to the appointed cottage . His mistress , being apprized of his intentions , lent him a favourable ear , at first from civility ; and then , if he proved agreeable to her , she signified her mind to him , by asking for
his pipe , of which she made no other use than by puffing the smoke into his nostrils . This agreeable declaration would sometimes cause the lover to fall quite sick to the ground : still it was a declaration of love ; and in whatever manner he is informed that his passion meets with a return , it must be attended with pleasure . On the part of the bride this was not allshe would tie the hair of her belovedand
; up , dye his face with colours most pleasing to her own , fancy . On ' this occasion she would display that skill , in which the Indian women excel , of pricking such marks in the skin of her lover , as are relative to their amours ; and would suit her fancy in chusing that part of his body which seemed the best adapted to do honour to her own ingenuity . ' . '