their work, by observing, that the major part of their converts were progressively attaining more of the christian character, both in knowledge and practice.

A few general observations will very properly close this chapter. The mission in Labrador, in many respects, bears a strong resemblance to that in Greenland. Most of the converts pass the winter in the settlements, dwelling in winter houses; but the greater part of summer they spend in their provision-places on the islands, or along the coast, catching seals, or in the interior hunting reindeer; and when during this season they come, for a week or two, to the settlements, they pitch their tents. During winter the meetings for religious worship, not only on sundays, but every day in the week, and likewise the schools, both for adults and children, are held in regular order.

Our brethren have laid out gardens, which, however, do not produce much except lettuce, spinnach and a few early turnips and cabbages. The country supplies them · with some game, such as hares, wild geese, patridges, &c. and the bays furnish plenty of fish; in some years they have even caught above six thousand large salmon trouts at NAIN, which together with cod, are prepared for winter's use. But, after all, their main subsistence must depend on the provisions annually sent from Europe. It is no wonder, therefore, that the arrival of the ship is always considered as a most auspicious event, and never fails to awaken the liveliest joy and gratitude.

They have one convenience not possessed in Greenland. The country supplies not only wood for fuel, but also timber for most purposes of building. With a view to facilitate their necessary labours of this kind, they have erected a saw-mill in each of the settlements.

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CHAP. III.

MISSION IN NORTH AMERICA.

WHEN the first Europeans came to North America, they found it inhabited by numerous nations, comprehended under the general name of INDIANS. The principal of these nations are the Delawares and Iroquois *, divided into several tribes. Besides these, there are numerous other tribes, but of inferior note.

These nations occupy a territory extending from the 37th to the 48th degree of north latitude, and from the 77th to the 92nd degree of west longitude from London; being in length about eight hundred, and in breadth eleven hundred miles. It is bounded by New York and Pennsylvania on the east, by the river Ohio on the south, by the river Misssisippi on the west, and by Canada on the north. It includes the five large Canadian lakes, and is intersected by some of the noblest rivers in the world, besides a number of smaller streams. The climate, in general, is very cold in winter and extremely hot in summer; though in some parts of the country it is more variable. The soil is naturally rich, abounding in trees and shrubs of almost every kind, and very fit for agriculture; but the Indians bestow little labour on the cultivation of their lands, as they chiefly live by hunting and fishing, and never manure their grounds, but, whenever the strength of the soil is exhausted in one place, remove to another, and lay out new plantations.

The men are mostly slender, of a middle size, handsome and straight. They possess great dexterity and

# Iroquois is the name given to these nations by the French, and as it has been adopted by Loskiel in his history of the Mission in North America, it has been retained in the subsequent narrative. The appellation, generally used by English Authors, is the Six nations, as the following six tribes are united in a close league with each other, viz. Mohawks, Oneida, Onondago, Cajuga, Senneka and Tuscarora.

uncommon swiftness in walking and running. The women are of low stature, less handsome, and rather clumsy in their appearance. Both men and women are extremely fond of dress, and bestow much time and labour in decorating their persons. They paint their faces and heads in the most fantastical manner, and wear rings and other ornaments suspended from the ears and nose; but the most singular decoration consists in scarifications, representing serpents, birds and other creatures, which often cover the whole upper part of the body, and at a distance resemble a coat of mail. Their dress is light, consisting for the most part of a blanket, or a bear-skin, hung loosely over both shoulders, or only over the left, that the right arm may be free. Some wear caps, or hats, bought of the Europeans, others go bareheaded. On festive occasions they ornament their hair with plumes, silverrings, corals, &c. Their stockings are made of blue and red cloth, very long but without feet; and their shoes of deer-skin, neatly sewed by the women. Round the waist they tie a girdle, made of leather, or of the inner-bark of trees. In this they carry a small axe and a long knife, besides a pouch, made of the whole skin of a young otter, beaver, or fox, which contains a pipe, tobacco, pocketknife and tinder-box, and is considered the most essential part of an Indian's furniture. The dress which peculiarly distinguishes the women, is a petticoat, made of a piece of cloth of about two yards long, fastened tight about the hips, and hanging down a little below the knees.

Before their acquaintance with the Europeans, their dwellings were nothing more than huts, made of bark, rushes or long grass. The Iroquois and other nations at a distance from the White People *, live still in huts of this description; but the Delawares have learned the convenience of block-houses, which they either build themselves, or pay white workmen for doing it.

The frame of an Indian hut is made by driving poles into the ground and strengthening them with crossbeams; and is covered within and without with bark. The roof

• The European settlers and their descendants are called White People, of simply Whites, to distinguish them from the Indians.

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runs up into a ridge, also covered with bark, and has art opening to emit the smoke. The light enters by smallapertures, furnished with shutters. The door consists of a large piece of bark, without bolt or lock; a stick reared against the out-side, indicates that its inhabitants are from home. These huts are neither convenient nor well furnished, being mostly low, without divisions and not floored. The fire-place is in the middle, round which are placed benches, rudely finished, serving also for tables and bedsteads. The same blanket, which clothes them in day, is their covering at night, and the bed is a deer or bear-skin, or a mat made of rushes; some line the inside of their huts with these mats, partly for ornament and partly to render them warmer. Their provisions and other necessaries they hang on poles, fixed across the top of the hut; and the Indian-corn is preserved in pits in the ground.

A number of these huts standing together, is called an Indian town, and, if surrounded by pallisades, a fortification. These towns are not large, and in building them, no regular plan is observed, every one following his own fancy.

The Indians are not remarkable for cleanliness. Their pots, dishes and spoons are seldom washed, but left for the dogs to lick. A difference, however, exists in this respect between the various tribes. Some of the dwellings of the Iroquois have a clean and neat appearance, and afford a comfortable night's lodging even to an European.

The men spend much of their time in warlike pursuits. When not thus engaged their chief employments consist in hunting, fishing and building canoes; every other kind of work being left to the women. In this respect, however, there is a great difference between a Delaware and an Iroquois family. A Delaware Indian hunts and fishes, provides meat for the household, keeps his wife and children in cloathing, builds and repairs the house, or hut, and makes fences round the plantation. The woman cooks the victuals, fetches fire-wood, and labours in the field and garden, though the husband will occasion

ally assist in the latter. Thus among them the women live as well as the situation of an Indian will allow.

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But this is not the case among the Iroquois. Iroquois, in his savage state, is proud of his strength, courage and other manly virtues, and treats his wife with coolness, contempt, and not unfrequently, with abuse; considering every occupation, but that of a hunter or warrior, as beneath his dignity. His wife must not only do all the business in the house and in the field, but even make the fences, keep the house repaired and perform all kinds of drudgery. On à journey she must carry the baggage, and sometimes her husband's gun and the very game he has shot.

A tacit understanding subsists among the married people, that whatever the husband obtains by hunting belongs to the wife. On the other hand, whatever the wife reaps from the garden and fields belongs to the husband, from which she must provide him with the necessary food, both when at home and on a journey. Some men keep the skins of the deers and bears they have killed, and with them purchase clothes for their wives and children. The cows are the wife's property, but the horses belong to the husband, who generally maks his wife a present of one for her own use,

The children are always considered the property of their mother, who hath the sole management of their education while young. Both father and mother endeavour to gain the affection of their children, and never oppose their inclinations, but leave them to their own will, without ever resorting to compulsory measures. Yet many wellbred children are found among them, who pay great attention and respect to their parents, and are civil to stran gers. By the instruction and example of their parents, the young people learn from very early years to suppress their passions, and acquire a command of temper truly astonishing.

The Delawares are renowned for their courage, peaceable disposition and powerful alliances, for nearly all the