Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/42



34 O. B. SPERLIN

Hoskins 17 * reports that Gray's crew found women exceedingly modest; nothing could tempt them to come on board ship. Dixon 175 records a sensitiveness in regards to incontinency which is certainly not surpassed among civilized peoples. "The New Vancouver Journal" 176 contains the following record: "The women are very modest in their behavior, and cannot bear the most trifling attacks of gallantry. An indelicate word will often bring tears to their eyes; but as there are few societies without a bad member or two, so it was here." Jew- itt 177 was sure that sailors gained a wrong impression of Indian chastity at some harbors, due to the fact that some masters prostituted their slaves. Other evidence indicates that Jewitt was right. The earliest explorers, La Perouse among the Hoonids excepted, give strong testimony to Indian virtue. Ross, 178 who ought to know, as his lifelong companion was an Okanogan woman, says, "The women have in general an engaging sweetness, are good housewives, modest in their demeanor, affectionate and chaste, and strongly attached to their husbands and children. Each family is ruled by the joint will or authority of husband and wife, but more particularly by the latter." Chenal 179 says that husbands usually consulted their wives before concluding a bargain. Mackenzie 180 says that though women are as slaves, their advice is sought in everything except matters relating to woman's domestic situa- tion. Clark 181 says that among the Shoshones women "are held more sacred" than among any they had seen east of the Rockies.

Family love was a strong feature of Indian life. Natives were fond of their children, says Mackenzie, 182 but careless in their mode of taking care of them. Maquinna came near killing Jewitt's companion in captivity, for striking his son. Indians, as said before, did not whip their children; shame

1 74 Narrative: p. 43.

175 Voyage: p. 227.

176 Wash. Hist. Quarterly: VI., 61.

177 Adventures: p. 131.

178 Adventures: p. 295.

179 Marchand: I., p. 360.

180 Voyages: II., 26.

181 Original Journal: III., p. 10