242 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. INGE 
visits I proposed to Mr. Quilleim to purchase me from my master, 
whom I knew to be covetous and fond of riches, according to the 
Indian estimation of wealth, and which consists of being possessed 
with a profusion of trinkets, much wampum, beads, silver bracelets and 
gorgets. This gentleman, on account of Mr. Sterling with whom he was 
intimate, and whose daughter he afterwards married, was much my 
friend ; he made several offers to Perwash for my purchase, first bringing 
him a horse and a cow, thinking that would prevail upon him, as he had 
often expressed a liking to the comforts that white people enjoyed, but 
he had a greater liking for me than to part with me at that price. He 
however, agreed to let me go for certain merchandise to the value of £40, 
upon condition that I was always to live with Mr. Quilleim, and not be 
allowed to go back to the English. This we both promised, although of 
course we only intended to keep it so long as it would not be attended 
with risk to the benefactor, for rather than he should be a sufferer I 
resolved to live with him, though at the hazard of being again seized by 
the savages. My “mother” and “brother” took an affectionate leave 
of me, and I went home laden with the things they had given me, and 
overjoyed with the change in my situation. I immediately cast away 
my greasy painted shirt which I had worn for two months without ever 
having had it washed. I scrubbed myself for two hours with soap and 
warm water to get the grease and paint off, then dressing myself in the 
costume of the Canadians, with a clean French shirt and long ruffles, and 
a mantle exactly like a bed gown, with a pair of new leggings, I began to 
feel pretty comfortable. The Frenchman with whom I was, being 
brother to the former commandant, and a great favourite with the 
Indians, (the latter had been rather civil to him in not killing all the 
stock, such as the cattle, poultry, etc.,) I got a good supper from him, 
genteelly served up, while a comfortable bed was provided for me in 
which I slept better than I had done for a long while before. I awoke 
next morning happy in the thought of being out of the hands of the 
savages, and once more returned to freedom, (as I imagined) never 
doubting that now I should have an opportunity of returning to my 
friends in the fort, or at least be quartered with so good a family till the 
war was over. With these pleasing reflections I consoled myself under 
the circumstances, but how fleeting are the hopes and joys of this 
life, and how uncertain are we weak mortals of what it may please the 
Almighty to make us suffer in this state of trial and probation! I was 
happy at this moment beyond expression, and in the next I was doomed 
to be miserable, Before sunset, as I was enjoying the company of the 
amicable Mademoiselle Quilleim, lamenting together the pitiable situa- 
tion of many poor captives that were still in the hands of the Indians, 
