hv_coatesi_account_1798_046

with hoes. They hoe the grass and weedsclean from the old cornhills and plant in thesame place, and some time after the corn comesup they hoe all the surface of the field over so thatit looks very neat, with the corn they plantbeans, squashes, and potatoes, also pumpkins. Since we came here the women haveworked very hard: they found all the corn for hominyand bread, sift and prepare it; cut and split alltheir wood and and carry it home on their backs, nearlya quarter of a mile; make all their fires, and doall their kitchen work; plant and take care of,and gather their corn and beans: and as far asI can learn (says J.S.) do all other out door work,except building the houses and splitting therails that the corn land is fenced with. It has been a busy time since we came here,the women have risen early, gone out to the cornfield with their hoes, some of them old gray headedwomen, and some children (girls) of 8, 10, or 12 years ofage and kept pretty close to their work. One old woman who has had her feet so frozenthat she goes altogether on her knees, I haveseen carrying in wood and making the fire,bring up water from the river, and go out to the cornfield, and return in the evening withthe laborers, while the men and boys are spend-ing their time in idleness, or shooting with their