BARBAROUS ATROCITIES. 



his efforts were unavailing, for he was found 

 dead in the woods. 



For the neglect or abandonment bv the more 

 active hunters of the sick and feeble of their 

 tribe, some allowance may be made, on account 

 of the peculiarity of their circumstances. To 

 follow and keep up with the migratory animals 

 which constitute their food, is essential to the 

 preservation, not only of the hunters themselves, 

 but of the whole encampment. An infirm or 

 diseased savage is not merely useless ; he is a 

 positive clog and encumbrance on the motions of 

 the rest. No wonder, then, if occasionally, in 

 the impatience or necessity of the chace, he is 

 left behind to the mercy of chance. But there 

 are instances, it is painful to say, of barbarous 

 outrages for which no such palliation can be 

 found. In my progress through the country, I 

 heard several stories of transactions among the 

 Indians almost too revolting to be mentioned. 

 Others equally shocking were related to Mr. 

 King ; and one in particular, as narrated by Mr. 

 Charles, the factor mentioned above, was so 

 horrible, that, although the recital, it is to be 

 feared, will excite loathing and disgust, yet 

 I think it right to give it, as illustrative of the 

 occasional atrocities of savage life. 



A Cree Indian of the name of Pepper, 

 who had long resided around Chipewyan as a 



