CHAP. XXII. INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON INDIANS. 35 



' Others spoke, young men : they said they were strong 

 and would go. They he there now : tliey are dead ; their 

 wives are dead, their httle children are dead. 



' I spoke, and said I was strong — I would go and see 

 the robe noire.'' 



' When the ice went away, we came down the Moisie, 

 fifteen people. Otliers came down the St. Marguerite, 

 beyond there ; others went down the Trinity. Many soon 

 fell sick and died ; some went back after they had seen 

 the robe noire. Last year I wanted to go back, but was 

 too weak. Only four of those who came with me still 

 remain here. What are we to do ? If we go back, we 

 shall not see the priest again. He cannot come to our 

 country — it is too far. We shall soon forget what he has 

 taught us ; our children will be heathens again. I believe 

 in God, a great and good God, and all that he has done for 

 us. Shall I go back to the wilderness where I shall never 

 hear of God ? shall I take my children back to be afraid 

 of devils ? shall I stay here and die, or see them die, one 

 by one, before my eyes — see my wife die, and feel that I 

 am dying myself? What shall I do.^ 



' Look at that sea : it is clear and briglit, but to-morrow, 

 it may be, there will be fog, fog ; and then, what shall I 

 feel here ? pain, pain ! and I shall know then that 1 am 

 going to follow those who have lingered a httle while, 

 and then died. 



' I am not in my own country ; I do not breathe 

 my own air ; I have not hunted a caribou since I 

 came to the coast ; I have not my old strength ; I am 

 weak and full of care. If I were in my own country, I 

 should be strong and happy, if I should not forget what 



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