Chap. X. FRANKLIN AND RICHARDSON'S JOURNEY. 347 



his account of the Crees, says that tattooing is as 

 common among them as in the Oriental Islands, 

 notwithstanding it is a most painful operation : " a 

 half-breed, whose arm I amputated, declared that 

 tattooing was not only the most painful operation 

 of the two, but infinitely more difficult to bear, by 

 its tediousness, having, in his case, lasted three 

 days." Captain Franklin has also some notices of 

 the Crees, but is more particular respecting the 

 Stone Indians, residing near the Company's post 

 of Carlton House ; " they are more prepossessing,'' 

 he says, " in their looks, but addicted to thieving, and 

 grossly and habitually treacherous. Their coun- 

 tenances are affable and pleasing, their eyes large 

 and expressive, nose aquiline, teeth white and regu- 

 lar, the forehead bold, the cheek-bones rather high. 

 Their figure is usually good, above the middle size, 

 with slender but well-proportioned limbs. Their 

 colour is a light copper, and they have a profusion 

 of very black hair." Back has supplied a very 

 striking portrait. They steal whatever they can, 

 particularly horses, maintaining that they are 

 common property sent by the Almighty for the 

 general use of man, and therefore may be taken 

 wherever met with. This avowed disposition calls 

 for the strictest vigilance at the several posts. 



" In the afternoon of the 26th of March we had 

 the pleasure of arriving," says Captain Franklin, 

 " at Fort Chipewyan, and thus terminated a win- 



