Yet the glorious instinct of the Indian haunted them.

As a rule they had been born on the "pitching-track," in the forest, or on the prairies--in all sorts of places, they could not say exactly where--and when they were born was often a matter of doubt as well.

[With reference to these nondescript birthplaces, the wonderful ease of parturition among Indian women may be referred to here.

This is common, probably, to all primitive races, but is perhaps more marked amongst Indian mothers than any other.

The event may happen in a canoe, on the trail, at any place, or at any moment, without hindering the ordinary progress of a travelling party, which is generally overtaken by the mother in a few hours.