MacDonell, John. Description of Lake Athabasca and the Chipweans, ca. 1805 and Journal of a Voyage from Lachine to Fort River Qu'Appelle, 1793. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0005

Cold of winter; not withstanding they suffer greatly on that account. Formerly they were clothed with the skins of the Caribou, but they have now partly left off that dress, and the men now follow that of the Canadians which they are very fond of, as also of the French Language, which causes us frequently to colour our words as many of them would understand us; so great is their facility for learning it; the Women's dresses consist of a Blue, Red, Green, Cloth Petticoat, a sort of sleeves of the same sort, sewed from the wrist to the Elbow, and are left open above so as to join both behind, and before, which almost covers their nakedness; as the Jupon is constructed to come up as high as the Shoulders[.] Stocks of Cloth is the fourth and last grand division of their parure; the hair is no ways adorned and is left to stand as it grows – this is their Summer's dress, and in Winter they wrap themselves in a Blanket or a Caribou Robe. These Females are extremely prolific, notwithstanding the Slavish life they lead with their haugthy Lords and masters; who look upon them in no other light than as fit only to be used as beasts of burthen, to conduce to their sensual pleasures, and to bring forth children. Even in the infancy of the slave devoted

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