Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/209

 All other Sorts of Fruit, as Plumbs, Peaches and others, wherewith the Country abounds, would become exquisite, if the same Industry were us'd, and other Sorts of Fruit we have in France would thrive well, if they were carry'd over. The Earth produces a Sort of Hemp, whereof Cloth might be made and Cordage.

As for the Manners and Customs of the Islinois, in many Particulars they are the same as those of the other Nations we have seen. They are naturally fierce and revengeful, and among them the Toil of Sowing, Planting, carrying of Burdens, and doing all other Things that belong to the Support of Life, appertains peculiarly to the Women. The Men have no other Business but going to the War and hunting, and the women must fetch the Game when they have kill'd it, which sometimes they are to carry very far to their Dwellings, and there to parch, or dress it any other Way.

When the Corn or other Grain is sow'd, the Women secure it from the Birds till it comes up. Those Birds are a sort of Starlings, like ours in France, but larger and fly in great Swarms.

The Islinois have but few Children, and are extremely fond of them; it is the Custom among them, as well as others I have mentioned, never to chide, or beat them, but only to throw Water at them, by Way of Chastisement.

The Nations we have spoken of before, are not at all, or very little, addicted to Thieving; but it is not so with the Islinois, and it behoves every Man to watch their Feet as well as their Hands, for they know how to turn any Thing out of the Way most dexterously. They are subject to the general Vice of all the other Indians, which is to boast very much of their Warlike Exploits, and that is the main Subject of their Discourse, and they are very great Lyars.

They pay a Respect to their Dead, as appears by their special Care of burying them, and even of putting into Coffins placed high above the ground, the Bodies of such as are considerable among them, as their Chiefs and others,