340 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



father dashed the morsel from his lips, and deplored the 

 loss of his child. Misery may harden a disposition naturally 

 bad, but it never fails to soften the heart of a good man." — 

 pp. 60, 61. 



A great part of the chapter is employed in a 

 minute account of the Crees, or, as named by the 

 French Canadians, Knisteneaux. Much curious 

 information regarding their manners, customs, and 

 character is developed, and apparently on correct 

 authority, but the detail would be out of place in 

 the present Narrative. It may suffice therefore to 

 give the Doctor's conclusion, where he says, — " We 

 may state the Crees to be a vain, fickle, improvident 

 and indolent race, and not very strict in their 

 adherence to truth, being great boasters; but, on 

 the other hand, they strictly regard the rights of 

 property, are susceptible of the kinder affections, 

 capable of friendship, very hospitable, tolerably 

 kind to their women, and withal inclined to peace." 

 He then gives an instance of their kind feeling 

 towards the softer sex. " An Indian visited the 

 fort in the winter. The poor man's wife had lost 

 her feet by the frost ; this compelled him not only 

 to hunt, but to do all the menial offices himself, 

 and, in the winter, to drag his wife with their stock 

 of furniture from one encampment to another. In 

 the performance of this duty, as he could not keep 

 pace with the rest of the tribe, he more than once 

 nearly perished of hunger." 



