OF THE POLAR SEA. 97 
The original character of the Crees must have 
been much modified by their long intercoursé 
with Europeans; hence it is to be understood, 
that we confine ourselves in the following sketch 
to their present condition, and more particularly 
to the Crees of Cumberland House. The moral 
character of a hunter is acted upon by the nature 
of the land he inhabits, the abundance or scarcity 
of food, and we may add, in the present case, his 
means of access to spirituous liquors. Ina country 
So various in these respects as that inhabited by 
the Crees, the causes alluded to must operate 
strongly in producing a considerable difference of 
character amongst the various hordes. It may 
be proper to bear in mind also, that we are about 
to draw the character of a people whose only rule 
of conduct is public opinion, and to try them by 
a morality founded on divine revelation, the only 
standard that can be referred to by those who 
have been educated in a land to which the bless- 
ings of the Gospel have extended. 
Bearing these considerations in mind then, we 
may state the Crees to be a vain, fickle, impro- 
vident, 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 
* This is, perhaps, true of the Cuesberland House Crees alone: 
Vor. H 
