xcvi A GENERAL HISTORY

ings, not only among themfelves, but with flrangers*. They are alfo
generous and hofpitable, and good-natured in the extreme, except when
their nature is perverted by the inflammatory influence of {pirituous
liquors. To their children they are indulgent to a fault. The father,
though he affumes no command over them, is ever anxious to in-
ftru&t them in all the preparatory qualifications for war and hunt-
ing; while the mother is equally attentive to her daughters in
teaching them every thing that is confidered as neceflary to their
charaéter and fituation. It does not appear that the hufband makes
any diftin€tion between the children of his wife, though they may be
the offspring of different fathers. Illegitimacy is only attached to thofe
who are born before their mothers have cohabited with any man by the
title of hufband,

It does not appear, that chaftity is confidered by them as a virtue ;
or that fidelity is believed to be effential to the happinefs of wedded
life. Though it fometimes happens that the infidelity of a wife is
punifhed by the hufband with the lofs of her hair, nofe, and perhaps
life; fuch feverity proceeds from its having been praétifed without his
permiffion: for a temporary interchange of wives is not uncommon;
and the offer of their perfons is confidered as a neceflary part of the
hofpitality due to ftrangers.

When a man lofes his wife, it is confidered as a duty to marry her

woe ; : Riba ;
They have been called thieves, but when that vice can with juftice be attributed to them,

it may be traced to their conneétion with the civilized people who come into their country to
traffic.

fifter,