habit of going after the scalps of their enemies, had other
crimes and sins, which showed that they were fallen and sinful, and much
in need of the Gospel. Among the defects and wickednesses of the men,
was the almost universal contempt for, and cruelty to the women. If a
man spoke or acted kindly to his wife, or mother, or daughter, it was by
them considered a sign of weakness and effeminacy. To be harsh and cold
toward the women, was supposed to be one of the signs of the ideal
Indian toward which they were ever striving. All manual labour, apart
from hunting and fishing, was considered degrading to be left to the
women, and some, as much as possible, even left the fishing to them.
Where there were no tribal wars, the perfect Indian was only the great
hunter. And with the great hunter, his work ended when the game was
killed. If it were at all possible to send his wife or mother to the
spot where the animal lay, that his arrow or gun had brought down, he
would scorn to carry or drag it back to camp. He had killed the bear,
or moose, or reindeer, or whatever animal it might happen to be, and now
it was woman's work to take it to the wigwam, and as quickly as possible
prepare for him his meal. Thus we have seen the great stalwart
six-footed hunter come stalking into the village with his gun upon his
shoulder, while the poor mother, or wife, or daughter, came trudging on
behind, almost crushed down with the weight of the game upon her back.
He carried the gun--she the game.

Then, no matter how tired she might be with the heavy burden, no time
was allowed for rest. With a quick harsh "kinipe" (hurry); she was soon
at work. The skin was quickly and skilfully removed, and some of the
savoury meat was cooked and placed before her husband or son. Not a
mouthful would she be allowed to taste until the despot had leisurely
finished, unless it were to pick some of the bones which he
condescendingly threw to her, as, at a distance from him, she sat with
the girls and dogs. Thus she was treated as a slave, or drudge, or
beast of burden. Then when sickness or old age came on, and she became
unable to work and toil and slave, she was without mercy put out of
existence: the usual method being strangulation.

This was the sad condition of women in various parts of this great
continent ere the Gospel reached the Indian tribes. Very marvellous and
striking have been the transformations which we have witnessed among
those