Keith, George. An Account of Mackenzie River (Letters to Roderick Mackenzie), 1807-1817. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0033

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or misapplied in disputes or rather contests about women; and since I am upon the subject it may not be improper to observe that a man can scarcely call a woman his own, untill such time as he has got a couple of children at least, so frequent is elopement amongst them and sometimes injustice. The mother in general disposes of her Daughter and generally when very young (from 10 to 12 years of age) and very often for present convenience without much regard to the future welfare and prosperity or happiness of either party. Hence it is no wonder that the Daughter in riper years takes the liberty sometimes of choosing for herself in which she seldom meets with opposition from her Parents, provided the new son in law is a better hunter and more industrious. The children of two brothers, a first cousins, are permitted to become partners for life. tThis is the nearest affinity in marriage

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