OF THE POLAR SEA. 107 
~ tion of an Indian child, nor are they early trained 
to that command over their temper which they 
exhibit in after years. 
The discourse of the parents is never re- 
strained by the presence of their children, every 
transaction between the sexes being openly talked 
of before them. 
The Crees having early obtained arms from the 
European traders, were enabled to make harass- 
ing inroads on the lands of their neighbours, 
and are known to have made war excursions as 
far to the westward as the Rocky Mountains, and 
to the northward as far as M‘Kenzie’s River ; but 
their enemies being now as well armed as them- 
Selves, the case is much altered. 
They shew great fortitude in the endurance of 
hunger, and the other evils incident to a hunter’s 
life; but any unusual accident dispirits them at 
once, and they seldom venture to meet their 
enemies in open warfare, or to attack them even 
by surprise, unless with the advantage of superi- 
ority of numbers. Perhaps they are much dete- 
riorated in this respect by their intercourse with 
Europeans. Their existence at present hangs © 
upon the supplies of ammunition and clothing 
they receive from the traders, and they deeply 
feel their dependant situation. But their cha- 
racter has been still more debased by the passion 
