state of slavery to cohabit with the French people, they assume an importance to themselves; and instead of serving as formerly, they exact submission from the descendants of the Gauls; who are afraid to disoblige them, for fear they should elope the first opportunity. Notwithstanding this good usage, they frequently desert and return to their relations, where they submit implicitly to the yoke as formerly; but generally they evince a greater spirit of dependance than when with them before; when the Indian in his turn must act with more condescension to avoid giving her occasion of leaving him. She has always enough of Policy to insinuate how well off she was while living with the white people; and in like manner when with the latter she drops some hints to the same purpose:– by this plan she foments hatred and suspicion entre le sauvage et le civilizé, which prevents her coquetry from being detected; while at the same time she is courted by both parties. A plurality of wives is looked upon amongst these

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