108 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
for spirituous liquors, so assiduously fostered 
among them. To obtain the noxious beverage, 
_ they descend to the most humiliating entreaties, 
and assume an abjectness of behaviour which 
does not seem natural to them, and of which not 
a vestige is to be seen in their intercourse with 
each other. Their character has sunk among the 
neighbouring nations. They are no longer the 
warriors who drove before them the inhabitants 
of the Saskatchawan and Missinippi. The Cum- 
berland House Crees, in particular, have been 
long disused to war. Betwixt them and their 
ancient enemies, the Slave nations, lie the exten- 
Sive plains of the Saskatchawan, inhabited by 
the powerful Asseeneepoytuck, or Stone Indians, 
who having whilst yet a small tribe, entered the — 
country under the patronage of the Crees, now 
render back the protection they received. 
The manners and customs of the Crees have, 
probably, since their acquaintance with Euro- 
peans, undergone a change, at least, equal to that 
which has taken place in their moral character ; 
and, although we heard of many practices pe- 
culiar to them, yet they appeared to be nearly as 
much honoured in the breach a8 the observance. 
We shall, however, briefly notice a few of the 
most remarkable customs. | 
When a hunter marries his first wife, he usually 
