[Garry] "DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 117 
to be spread out. They consisted in 20 very fine Beaver Skins. One 
of the Chiefs then rose and really in a very graceful manner made a 
Speech. He said he regretted that a more able Person was not the 
Chief one who could better express his Attachment and that of his 
Children to their great Father. He said his Tribe had been afflicted 
with the Measles and this would a little account for the few People he 
had brought with him but there was another cause, which he even more 
regretted which was that a black Bird had decoyed away some of his 
Followers. He said as long as the Mountain remains fixed pointing to 
a very high Mountain which is near Fort William so long would he and 
his Followers remain true to his great Father. He said that the black 
Bird had whispered to him that an Alteration would take place in the 
Trade, that he did not believe it and relied on his great Father. Mr. 
McGillivray then replied to him. He said he was happy they had fulfilled 
their Promise in paying their Debts, regretted the Sickness, and that 
the black Bird, the Americans, had decoyed away some of his People, 
that the N. W. Company had certainly united and would become one 
Company but that this would make no alteration in their Dealings with 
them. After this Mr. McGillivray’s Presents were brought in which 
consisted in two red Coats faced with blue and gold Braid, a round Hat 
and a Shirt. These they at once put on undressing in the most formal 
way without changing a muscle of their Countenance. Then Rum and 
Tobacco in considerable Quantity was divided amongst them. After 
this they gave Mr. McGillivray the Pipe to Smoke and then they 
departed. They are the same Tribe of Indians we have met with in our 
whole Journey, the Chipeways. They are a fine looking People. One 
of them a very handsome man and great Dandy was very much painted 
red and white. In his Ears large round Earrings and Rings in his Nose. 
His Hair in a Tail behind and plaited in long Strings in Front which 
were joined by silver clasps. One of them, it is supposed, had murdered 
his Father, Mother and the whole Family consisting in ten Persons. He 
denied the Act, but there was no Doubt on the Subject. If anything 
could make the Crime more diabolical it was that he had murdered his 
Father, led on by Hunger, that he might feed on his Body, and the other 
Part of the Family that it might not be known. He had blacked his 
Face pretending to mourn the Death of his Family. In the Evening 
they were all very tipsy. The Chief brought them into the Fort to 
prevent them being killed. 
July the 8th. The Indians at Fort William represented today their 
War Dance. The Chief dressed in a red Coat faced with blue and laced 
with Gold Tinsel entered the Fort followed by the whole Band of 
Sec. II., 1900. 8. 
