of her hufhand and the apologies of her friends could bring back
her former chearfulnefs and tranquility. j
Harmony being at length reftored in the canoe, the Chief held
up his child, and endeavoured to make us fenfible that it was
equally dear to him as his wi feint imat ing at the fame time,
that though he had received no prefent, yet he hoped we fhould
remember his little one; on this Captain Dixon gave the child
a couple of toes, which pleafed the chief wonderfully ; a few buttons
were alfo diftributed amongfl: the other women in the canoe,
and they left us foon afterwards, perfectly fatisfied with their
prefents.
To thofe who are fond of tracing human nature through all
its various ftages, a fcircumftance of this fort would be peculiarly
pleafmg, but I lhall forbear to expatiate on the fubjeft, and leave
thee to make thy own comments on it.
Though every tribe we met with at thefe iflands is governed by
its refpeftive Chief, yet they are divided into families, each of-
which appears to have regulations and a kind of fubordi'nate government
of its own : the Chief ufually trades for the whole
tribe; but I have fometimes obferved that when his method of
barter has-been difapproved of, each feparate family has claimed
a. right to difpofe of their own furs, and the Chief always com- |
plied with this requeft; whether or no he receives any emolument
on thefe occafions I cannot deteimine.
I often endeavoured to gain fome knowledge of their-language,
but I never could fo much as learn the numerals : every attempt
•I made of the kind either caufed a farcaftic laugh amongft the In-
p f 2 dians,