OF THE POLAR SEA. 101 
dearly for his temerity. In a quarrel with an 
Indian he threw out some obscure threats of 
vengeance, which passed unnoticed at the time, 
but were afterwards remembered. They met in 
the spring at Carlton House, after passing the 
winter in different parts of the country, during 
which the Indian’s child died. The conjurer had 
the folly to boast that he had caused its death, 
and the enraged father shot him dead on the spot. 
It may be remarked, however, that both these In- 
dians were inhabitants of the plains, and had 
been taught, by their intercourse with the tur- 
bulent Stone Indians, to set but comparatively 
little value on the lifeofa man. = 
It might be thought that the Crees have bene- 
fited by their long intercourse with civilized 
nations. That this is not so much the case as it 
ought to be, is not entirely their own fault. 
They are capable of being, and I believe will- 
ing to be, taught; but no pains have hitherto 
been taken to inform their minds*, and their 
white acquaintances seem in general to find it 
easier to descend to the Indian customs, and 
* Since these remarks were written the union of the rival com- 
panies has enabled the gentlemen who have now the manageme t 
of the fur trade, to take some decided steps for the religious in- 
struction and improvement of the natives and half-breed Indians, 
which have been more particularly referred to in the introduction, 
