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Jacob Hamblin, a narrative of his personal experience, as a frontiersman, missionary to the Indians and explorer, [microform] disclosing interpositions of Providence, severe privations, perilous situations and remarkable escapes. Fifth book of the faith-p - Page 63 |
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Show DESCRIPTION OF THE MOQUIS VILLAGE. 61 into the sea. The promontory is narrow where it joins the table land back of it. Across this the houses were joined together. The entrance to the town on the east side, was narrow and difficult. The town was evidently located and constructed for defense from the marauding tribes around. The houses are usually three stories high. The second and third stories are set back from the front the width of the one below, so that the roofs of the lower stories have the appear-ance of terraces. For security, the first story can only be entered by ascending to the roof, and then going down a ladder into the room below. After our arrival in the village, the leading men counseled together a few minutes, when we were separated and invited to dine with different families. A man beckoned to me to follow him. After traversing several streets, and climbing a ladder to the roof of the first story of a house, I was ushered into a room furnished with sheepskins, blankets, earthen cooking utensils, water urns, and other useful articles. It seemed to me strangely furnished, yet it had an air of comfort ; perhaps the more so, for the reason that the pre-vious few days had been spent in very laborious traveling, on rather low diet. The hostess made a comfortable seat with blankets, and motioned me to occupy it. A liberal repast was provided. It consisted of stewed meat, beans, peaches and a basket of corn bread which they called pe/ ce. It was about the thickness of brown paper, dry and crumbling, yet quite palatable. The hostess, apparently surmising that I would not know how to partake of the bean soup without a spoon, dexterously thrust her fingers, closed tightly together, into the dish con-taining it, and, with a very rapid motion carried the soup to her mouth. Tfien she motioned me to eat. Hunger was pressing, and a hint was sufficient. The day following, the two brethren we had left behind came in with the runaway mule, and a part of our supplies. |