ATKINS AND THE PRIEST. 489

R. C. But tell us some of it. How did. you begin, Will?
For this has been an extraordinary case, that’s certain. She has
preached a sermon indeed, if she has wrought this upon you.

W. A. Why, I first told her the nature of our laws about mar-
riage, and what the reasons were that men and women were obliged
to enter into such compacts as it was neither in the power of one
or other to break ; that otherwise order and justice could not be
maintained, and men would run from their wives and abandon
their children, mix confusedly with one another, and neither families
be kept entire nor inheritances be settled by legal descent.

&.C. You talk like a civilian, Will. Could you make her
understand what you meant by inheritance and families? They
know no such thing among the savages, but marry anyhow, with-
out regard to relation, consanguinity, or family: brother and
sister—nay, as I have been told, even the father and daughter, and
the son and the mother.

W. A. I believe, sir, you are misinformed; and my wife assures
me of the contrary, and that they abhor it. Perhaps, for any fur-
ther relations they may not be so exact as we are; but she tella
me they never touch one another in the near relations you speak of.

R. C. Well, what did she say to what you told her?

W. A. She said she liked it very well, and it was much better
than in her country.

B. C. But did you tell her what marriage was ?

W. A. Ay, ay; there began all our dialogue. I asked her if
she would be married to me our way. She asked me what way
that was. I told her marriage was appointed by God. And here
we had a strange talk together, indeed, as ever man and wife had,
I believe.

[N.B.—This dialogue between W. Atkins and his wife, as I took it
down in writing just after he told it me, was as follows :—]

Wife. Appointed by your God! Why, have you a God in your
country ?

W. A. Yes, my dear; God is in every country.

Wife. No you God in my country. My country have the great
old Benamuckee god.

W. A. Child, I am very unfit to show you who God is. God