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No. 22

four to eight children of both sexes. This difficulty does not originate from the scanty means afforded by the Country, so much as from the want of exertion, the supineness and improvident disposition on the part of the Natives, who urge several reasons in defence of these unbecoming propensities, and insist principally upon the domineering disposition of their neighbours and frequent Visitors the Red Knives. Because the latter very generally make free booty of any little property collected for the purpose of traffic, in order to procure a few necessaries; and if this is resisted, they will have the effrontery to force or carry off their women; and it is natural to conclude, that the first, as the least of two evils, is generally sacrificed, with the best grace in their power. In consequence of this vexation, those of them the most exposed generally sequestrate themselves to some little

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