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Show :1~6 Lewis ctntl Cla1·kc's Expedilion disorder, nrc the ChiJ•pcways. 'l'hcit· specifics arc tltc root of tho tol.wlia, and that of a spcei<'s or sumac, common to thr nitc<l States, the neighbourhood of the rocl<y mountains, nnd to the countt·ics westward. and whit·h is •·cadily dist1nguishecl by being Hto smallest of ii.s kind. am\ by its winged rib, or common footstalk. supporting leaves opposih~ ly I,innate. Decoctions o(' the roots art· use(l vm·, frt•cly. without any limitation. and arc saitl to sol'l('n lhe violence of the lues, and even to he sovereign in the cure of the gonorrhrea. The Cla.tsops and other nations at tho mouth of the Co-lumbia. have visited us with ~reat f•·ccdom. and we have cndt'avourcd to cultivate thci1· intimaoy, as well t'ot· tho JUU'{) OSC of acquiring infot•mation, as to leave behind US impressions favourable to ottr country. In their intcrcout·sc with us tlwy arc very loquacious and in(JUisitive. Jlaving acquired much or tbcit· language, we arc enabletl with tlw assistance of gestures, to hold conversations with great case. \Ve tind them inquisitive ami loquacious, with undcl'slandings by 110 means deficient ia acuteness, an<l with very retentive memories; and though fond of feasts, and generally cheerful, they are never gay. Every thing they sec excites their attention and inquiries, but having been accustomed to see the white~, nothing appcat·ed to give them more astonishment than the ait·-gun. To all onr im]uiries they answer with great intelligence, and the convm·oation rarely slacken!, since there is a constant discussion ol' 1be events, ami trade, and politit~s, in the little but active circle of Killa· mucks, ClatsO{)S, Cathlamahs, Wabkiacums, and Chinnooks. Among themselves, the conversation generally turns on the subjects of trade. or smoking. ot· eating, or conncxion with females, bcfor(' whom this last is spoken or with a l'amilhuity which would be in the highest degree indecent, it' custom had not rendered it inoffi·nsive. The treatment of wonu•n is often consid<'rcd as the tandard by \Vhicb the moral qualities of savages arc to be Up the JUissouri. 1S1 ('Stimated. Om· own ohser·vation, however, ill(luced us t.o think that the importance oft he female· in savn:;c life, has nonecessary a·clation to the vil•t11es of the mrn. IJUt is regulated wholly by t.hci1· e~apacity to he useful. rl1hc Indians whose 1t·ea.t mcnt of the females is mildest, and who JHly most defet ·encc to their opinions, arc hy no means tlae most distin~ uishrd l'ot· t.lwit• vit·tucs; not· is this deference attended hy m.•Y increase of at.t~u·hmcnt, since they arr equally willing WJth th<' most lH'utal husband, to prustif ut c thtit· wives to st.a·angcl's. On the ofh('l' hand, the tt·ilJ<•s among whom the women aa·e vct·y much de..~ based, J>Os ess the lof'tim;t sen ·c of honour·, the g•·catc~f lihentlity. ntu.J all the ~;ood qualities of which th •it· ::~ituatiou dcul&lluls fhc t· .~c..' rds<'. 'Vhcl'e the women can ai(-1 in proclll'ing suhsistctwc fol' tho tribe, they arc treated with mo1·c equalily, and Owit· irnpo•·tance is propOt ·tioncd to the shal'c wllich f hey take in that Jahoul'; while in countt·ics whcl'c subsi tcnce is t•hic11y pt·ocua·ed by the exm ·tions or the men, the women at·c considered and tt·catcd as lmrdcns. 'rhus, among the Clatsops and Cltinnooks, who Jive upon lisb and roots, wJti'ch the women nrc e<Jually expert whh the men in pt·ocUJ·iu~, the former· have a rank and influence vca·y •·ar·<'Jy found alltong Indians. The fe· males a1·c vcr·miUcd to speak freely bcfo•·c the men, to whom imlectl th('y sometimes addr·ess themselves itt a tone or authority. On many !:illhjccts thch· judgments and opinions al'c t' ·spccted, and in matters of tt·adc, thei1· advice is gene· rally asked and pursurd. 'rhe labours or the family too, arc shm·ed almost equally. 'fltc men coll<~ct wood and make fit·cs, assist in cleansing the fish, make the houses, canoes, and wooden uh~nsils; and whenever strangers are to be en .. tcr·taincd, or a gt·eat feast pr·cpat·e<l, the meats ar·e cooked. and served up by the men. 'The peculiar province of' the female is to collect roots, and to manufacture the various articles which are foa·mcd of rushes, flags, cedar-bark, and bcat·-grass; but the management of tbe canoes, aud many ot' VOL. 11. '£ |