Adventure and adventurers > Away in the wilderness, or, Life among the red Indians and fur-traders of North America

AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS.
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out of the canoes upon the bank, and the spot
which had been so quiet and solitary half an hour
before, became a scene of the utmost animation and
confusion. While the women were employed in
erecting the tents, the men strode up to the hall
of reception, where Mr. Grant supplied them with
tobacco and food to their hearts’ content.
These natives, who, owing to the reddish
copper-colour of their skins, are called red-men,—
were dressed chiefly in clothes made of deer-skin ;
cut much in the same fashion as the garments
worn by Jasper Derry. The women wore short
gowns, also made of leather, and leggings of the
same material; but it was noticeable that the
women had leggings more ornamented with gay
beads than those of the men, and they wore gaudy
kerchiefs round their necks.
These women were poor looking creatures, how¬
ever. They had a subdued, humble look, like dogs
that are used to being kicked ; very different from
the bold free bearing of the men. The reason of
this was, that they were treated by the men more
as beasts of burden than companions. Women
among the North American Indians have a hard
time of it, poor creatures. While their lords and
masters are out at the chase, or idly smoking round
the fire, the Indian women are employed in cutting
firewood and drawing water. Of course, they do
*11 the cooking, and, as the eating always continues,