"'Five winters in hunting we'll spend, While mourning our warriors slain, Till our youth grown to men For the battle-path trained, Our days like our fathers we'll end. V "'Ye are dead, noble men! ye are gone, My brother--my fellow--my friend! On the death-path where brave men must go But we live to revenge you! We haste To die as our forefathers died.' "In 1824, Bwoinais, a Chippeway warrior of Lake Superior, repeated to me, with the appropriate tunes, the following war-songs, which had been uttered {72} during the existing war between that nation and the Dakotas: I "'Oshawanung undossewug Penasewug ka baimwaidungig.' [From the south--they come, the warlike birds-- Hark! to their passing screams.] II "'Todotobi penaise Ka dow Wiawwiaun.' [I wish to have the body of the fiercest bird, As swift--as cruel--as strong.] III "'Ne wawaibena, neowai Kagait ne minwaindum Nebunaikumig tshebaibewishenaun.' [I cast my body to the chance of battle. Full happy am I, to lie on the field-- On the field over the enemy's line.]" The Indian Wife and Mother The position of women among the North American Indians is distinctly favourable, when the general circumstances of their environment are considered. As with most barbarian people, the main burden of the work of the community falls upon them. But in most cases the bulk of the food-supply is provided by the men, who have often to face long and arduous hunting expeditions in the search for provender. The labour of planting and digging seed, of hoeing, harvesting, and storing crops, is invariably borne by the women. In the more accessible Indian territory of North America, however, the practice of agriculture is falling into desuetude, and the aborigines are becoming accustomed {73} to rely to a great extent on a supply of cereals from outside sources. In the art of weaving Indian women were and are extremely skilful. In the southern regions the Hopi women have woven cotton garments from time immemorial.