Although the Hurons appeared to be happy, their mode of living was miserable.  Their principal articles of food were Indian corn and common beans, which they prepared in various ways.  Their clothing was made of the skins of wild animals.  Deer skin was used for their trousers, which were cut loose, and their stockings were made of another piece of the same skin, while their boots were formed of the skin of bears, beavers and deer.  They also wore a cloak in the Egyptian style, with sleeves which were attached by a string behind.  Most of them painted their faces black and red, and dyed their hair, which some wore long, others short, and others again on one side only.  The women and girls were dressed like men, except that they had their robes, which extended to the knee, girt about them.  They all dressed their hair in one uniform style, carefully combed, dyed and oiled.  For ornaments they wore quantities of porcelain, chains and necklaces, besides bracelets and ear-rings.

These people were of a happy temperament generally, though some had a sad and gloomy countenance.  Physically they were well proportioned.  Some of the men and women had fine figures, strong and robust, and many of the women were powerful and of unusual height.  The greater portion of the work fell to the lot of the women, who looked after the housework, tilled the land, laid up a store of wood for the winter, beat the hemp and spun it, and made fishing nets from the thread.  They also gathered in the harvest and prepared it for food.  The occupation of the men was hunting for deer, fishing, and building their cabins, varied at times by war.  When they were free from these occupations, they visited other tribes with whom they were acquainted for the purpose of traffic or exchange, and their return was celebrated by dances and festivities.

They had a certain form of marriage which Champlain thus describes.  When a girl had reached the age of eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen or fifteen years, she had suitors, more or less, according to her attractions, who wooed her for some time.  The consent of the parents was then asked, to whose wills the girl did not always submit, although the most discreet of them did so.  The favoured lover or suitor then presented to the girl some necklaces, bracelets or chains of porcelain, which she accepted if the suitor was agreeable to her.  The suitor then resided with her for three or four days, without saying anything to her in the meantime, but if they did not agree, the girl left her suitor, who forfeited his necklaces and the other presents which he had made, and each was free to seek another companion if so disposed.  This term of probation was often extended to eight, or even to fifteen days.

The children enjoyed great freedom.  The parents indulged them too much and never punished or corrected them.  As a consequence they grew up bad and vicious.  They would often strike their mothers, and when they were powerful enough they did not hesitate to strike their fathers.