McKenzie, James. Some Account of the King's Posts, the Labrador Coast, and the Island of Anticosti by an Indian Trader Residing there Several Years with a Description of the Natives and the Journal of a trip through those Countries in 1808 by the Same Person. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0017

in the father of his Belov[ed's] tent. If the match be disapproved of he finds on his return the Blanket outside of the door but if on the contrary it is agreeable to all parties he finds the Blanket spread near his Bride and the next & last scene to be acted is to consummate the nuptials under it. A Nascapee will take as many wives as he can maintain and so far from discovering any symptoms of Jealousy of each other for the unequal Distribution of his favours those females call one another by the kind name of sisters. It is perfectly well understood and agreed between both sexes that the women were designed by providence to drudge and the men for the nobler exercise of providing for their families by means of their Bows and arrows.

As soon as a Nascapee dies the survivors set up the yowl fire a shot to frighten away the evil spirit which killed him and light torches even in day light round the corps which is soon after interred with his utensils and wearing apparel a necessary precaution they think to facilitate his journey to that Country whence no traveller

ever

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L E G E N D :
 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

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