They are in no wise ungrateful to each other, and share everything. No one would dare to refuse the request of another, nor to eat without giving him a part of what he has. Once when we had gone a long way off to a fishing place, there passed by five or six women or girls, heavily burdened and weary; our people through courtesy [59] gave them some of our fish, which they immediately put to cook in a kettle, that we loaned them. Scarcely had the kettle begun to boil when a noise was heard, and other Savages could be seen coming; then our poor women fled quickly into the woods, with their kettle only half boiled, for they were very hungry. The reason of their flight was that, if they had been seen, they would have been obliged by a rule of politeness to share with the newcomers their food, which was not too abundant. We had a good laugh then; and were still more amused when they, after having eaten, seeing the said Savages around our fire, acted as if they had never been near there and were about to pass us all by as if they had not seen us before, telling our people [60] in a whisper where they had left the kettle; and they, like good fellows, comprehending the situation, knew enough to look unconscious, and to better carry out the joke, urged them to stop and taste a little fish; but they did not wish to do anything of the kind, they were in such a hurry, saying _coupouba, coupouba_, "many thanks, many thanks." Our people answered: "Now may God be with you since you are in such a hurry." CHAPITRE VI. DE LEURS MARIAGES & PETIT NOMBRE DE PEUPLE. AV cõtraire de nous, ils font en leurs mariages, non que le pere donne doüaire à sa fille pour la loger auec quelqu'vn; ains [61] que le poursuiuant face de bons, & beaux presens au pere, à ce qu'il luy donne sa fille pour espouse. Les presents seront proportionnément à la qualité du pere, & beauté de la fille; des chiens, des castors, des chauderons, & haches, &c. Mais la façon de courtiser, est bien sauuage: car l'amoureux dés qu'il se professe pour tel, n'oseroit regarder la fille, ny luy parler, ny demeurer aupres d'elle, sinon par occasion, & lors il faut qu'il se commande de ne la point enuisager, ny donner aucun signe de sa passion, autrement il seroit la mocquerie de tous, & sa fauourie en rougiroit. Apres quelque temps, le père assemble la par[~e]tée, pour auec eux deliberer de l'alliance. Si le recherchant est de bon aage; s'il est bon, & dispos chasseur, sa race, son credit, sa gaillardise; & s'il leur aggrée, ils luy [62] allongeront, ou accourciront, ou conditionneront le temps, & façon de sa poursuitte, ainsi qu'ils aduiseront, au bout duquel temps pour les nopces y aura solemnelle Tabagie & festin, auec harangues, chants, & danses. CHAPTER VI. ON THEIR MARRIAGES, AND SPARSENESS OF POPULATION.