[GARRY] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 111 
with a pleasing Countenance. He came out of his Lodge with no other 
Covering on him than a Blanket thrown over his Shoulders. We under- 
stood he was a most excellent, well-conducted man when sober, but like 
all the Saulters much addicted to drinking and this prevails as much 
with the Women as the Men. The Americans sell them a Spirit they 
call Whiskey, which is of so poisonous a Quality as to produce paralytic 
Affections and a long History of dreadful Disorders. The Women are 
ill-looking, the Men generally a fine looking People but great Dandies. 
They were preparing to play the Game of de la Crosse or Baggatiway 
and had painted their Cheeks with Vermilion and their Bodies with the 
most fantastic colors. The Game is played with a Bat and Ball, the 
Bat “4 Feet in Length, curved and terminating in a sort of Racket. 
“The Posts are planted in the Ground at a considerable Distance from 
“each other, a Mile or more. Each Party has its Post and the Game 
“ consists in throwing the Ball up to the Post of the Adversary.”* It 
was at this Game that the Indians deceived the English Garrison at Fort 
Michilimackinac when they murdered the Soldiers in 1762. They first 
invited the Garrison to see them play and when assembled they threw 
the Ball into the Fort, considering, as was the case, that they would not 
in running after the Ball be suspected of bad Intentions. They were 
but too successful and the Garrison fell a Sacrifice to their Treachery. 
Mr. Henry escaped, after running many hair-breadth escapes, through 
the kindness and Attachment of a Woman who concealed him. 
We asked our Indian, then our Interpreter, his Name as he was 
very finely painted. The Question put him into a great Rage. It is 
their Custom never to mention their own Names and this is even more 
strictly kept when speaking of the Dead; this is done figuratively by 
Description but not by Name. 
Plurality of Wives is allowed amongst them. I saw one Man who 
had three. The Form of Marriage is very simple. A young Man wish- 
ing to marry first obtains the Consent of the young Woman, then makes 
a Present to the Parent, when he is received. He must however serve 
his beau Pére for one Year. They reside during the summer at the 
Sault living entirely on White Fish, in Winter they live on the Produce 
of their Hunt in the Woods. They are very indolent and though the 
young Men would be handsomely paid if they would work they consider 
it would be disgracing themselves. They say the Indians only are free, 
that the Christians are Slaves as they are forced to work. The Supply 
of White Fish is inexhaustible. The Night before we left the Sault 



1 Quoted from Travels and Adventures of Alex. Henry, New York, 1809, who 
gives an account in chap. ix. of the Massacre referred to in the text. 
