Jamie comes across some Tuscarora people in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 43
Jamie and Young Ian are just going about their business when a couple of Indians come upon them in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 43. These Indians are Tuscarora, a tribe we haven’t heard about in some time.
I do like the way Diana Gabaldon writes her novels so you can pick up any book and not need to know everything from previous books. We’re reminded of what happened to the Tuscarora people in this chapter. They had to head to the Iroquois during the measles epidemic, and to be honest, we don’t need the full reminder of that from Drums of Autumn. Measles epidemics happened a lot.
So, what are two of the tribesmen doing here? It turns out one of Bird’s people took one of the wives. They’ve come to get the woman back, and they know it would mean certain death. They don’t mind, though.
I don’t sense that this chapter foreshadows much. It’s more of just setting the scene of the next bit for Jamie. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the foreshadowing section.
Will it be used in the TV series? I’m on the fence about that, and I’ll share my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 43.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Jamie and Young Ian hearing Tuscarora Indians. We’re reminded they left during the measles epidemic, so it’s rare for Jamie to come across the tribe now.
Why are they here? One of the men’s wives was taken by Bird’s people—Running Fox took her. This man wants her back, even though he knows he’ll die in the process. Jamie can’t let that happen, but he understands why the man wants his wife back. So, he needs to figure out another way of dealing with it.
Jamie half-jokingly suggests that Young Ian asks for her as his wife. Bird and his people respect Young Ian and would likely oblige. Young Ian doesn’t want to go through with that and suggests they either ransom the woman or they ask Bird to adopt the two Tuscarora men.
The men don’t want to be adopted. They saw Bird’s people kill their people. They can’t be adopted into the tribe. So, it means ransom the women. However, the two Indians say that they are now Jamie’s slaves. He can decide what to do with them. Jamie doesn’t want them as slaves, refusing to have more mouths to feed.
Jamie decides there is only one thing to do. He needs to ransom the woman. He just has to hope what he has from Major MacDonald is enough to do that.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
The chapter doesn’t foreshadow all that much from what I remember of the storyline. Really, it’s about showing how Jamie has to adapt on the spot. He has to manage different Native tribes as the Indian Agent, and he also needs to think on his feet a lot.
I guess there is some foreshadowing in the comment about how respected by the tribes Young Ian is. This can help the Fraser family in the future. But I can’t remember all the details to think of what it exactly foreshadows. But I do love the reminder that Young Ian is a respected man in the area by the different tribes.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
Will this chapter be used in the TV series? I really am on the fence about it. In one way, it should. We need to see how Jamie adapts to being an Indian Agent. However, we can see the more important conversations for that. Do we need to see him come across the Tuscarora Indians?
We have to remember that the Tuscarora Indians haven’t even been introduced in the TV series. We went straight to the Cherokee in the series for various reasons. So, there isn’t really much point in introducing the tribe suddenly.
I get a sense that this part will be skipped. However, we’ll see some of Jamie acting as Indian Agent in the series. That can’t be skipped over.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 43? Let us know in the comments below.
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