The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 3: Acadia, 1611-1616
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 3: Acadia, 1611-1616
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
CONTRARY to our custom, in their marriages the father does not give
a dower to his daughter to establish her with some one, but [61]
the lover gives beautiful and suitable presents to the father, so
that he will allow him to marry his daughter. The presents will be
in proportion to the rank of the father and beauty of the daughter;
dogs, beavers, kettles, axes, etc. But they have a very rude way
of making love; for the suitor, as soon as he shows a preference
for a girl, does not dare look at her, nor speak to her, nor stay
near her, unless accidentally; and then he must force himself not
to look her in the face, nor to give any sign of his passion,
otherwise he would be the laughingstock of all, and his sweetheart
would blush for him. After a while, the father brings together the
relatives, to talk over the match with them,--whether the suitor is
of proper age, whether he is a good and nimble hunter, his family,
his reputation, his youthful adventures; and if he suits them, they
will [62] lengthen or shorten, or make stipulations as to the time
and manner of his courtship as they may think best; and at the end
of this time, for the nuptials there will be solemn Tabagie and
feasts with speeches, songs and dances.
Selon la coustume du païs, ils peuuent auoir plusieurs femmes,
neantmoins la pluspart de ceux que i'ay veu n'en ont qu'vne: plusieurs
des Sagamos pretendent ne se pouuoir passer de ceste pluralité, non ja
pour cause de luxure (car ceste nation n'est point fort incontinente,)
ains pour autres deux raisons, l'vne à fin de retenir leur authorité,
& puissance ayants plusieurs enfans; car en cela gist la force des
maisons, en multitude d'alliés, & consanguins: la seconde raison est
leur entretien & seruice, qui est grand, & penible, puis qu'ils ont
grande famille & [63] suitte, & partant requiert nombre de seruiteurs &
mesnagers: or n'ont ils autres seruiteurs, esclaues, ou artisants que
les femmes. Les pauurettes endurent toute la misere & fatigue de la
vie: elles font & dressent les maisons, ou cabannes, les fournissent
de feu, de bois & d'eau, apprestent les viandes, boucannent les
chairs & autres prouisions, c'est à dire les seichent à la fumée pour
les conseruer; vont querir la chasse ou ell' a esté tuée, cousent &
radoubent les cauots, accommodent & tendent les peaux, les conroyent
& en font des habits, & des souliers à toute la famille; vont à la
pesche, tirent à l'auiron: en fin subissent tout le trauail, hors celuy
seulement de la grande chasse: outre le soin & la tant oppressante
nourriture de leurs petits. Elles emmaillottent leurs enfans [64] sur
des petits ais, tels que sont ceux qui pend[~e]t aux espaules des
crocheteurs de Paris, les aisles en estãt ostees. Ces ais pend[~e]t à
vne large courroye attachée à leur front, & ainsi chargees de leurs
enfans s'en vont à l'eau, au bois, à la pesche. Si l'enfant crie elles
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