SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 137 



but is often affected in old age, probably by the effect of 

 cold, or the usually disordered state of their stomach. 

 Their olfactory nerves are said to be inferior in acuteness 

 to those of the white man ; which is singular, considering 

 the extent of the sense of smelling among wild animals. 

 We should have believed that man in his {[primitive state 

 would be possessed of a more acute sense of smelling than 

 when civilized; the facts stated on this subject of the 

 Caraibs being able to trace men through the woods by the 

 scent, like hounds, and of their distinguishing " the track 

 of an Englishman or a negro, from that of a Frenchman 

 or a Spaniard, by the sense of smelling," if true, would be 

 strong confirmation of this doctrine.* It is said that the 

 Arabs cannot bear the smell of a city. 



Their endurance of cold is great. Their powers of di- 

 gestion are strong, but exposed to severe trials. The quantity 

 of food which an Indian will take when he has it in abun- 

 dance is surprising, and if considered in connection with what 

 is related by Captain Parry of the appetite of the Esquimaux, 

 would lead us to believe that this is not peculiar to any na- 

 tion of Indians, but that it belongs to man in general in his 

 wild state. We find that it extends also to the half-breeds 

 who live among them. The observations made at a later 

 period of the expedition, upon the quantity of buffaloe 

 meat consumed by every man of the party, confirm this. 

 The usual allowance of fresh buffaloe meat to the guides 

 and boatmen of the fur trading companies is not less than 

 eight pounds per day ; it is probable, that during the short 

 time the party were among the buffaloe, the ration of each 

 of the gentlemen averaged about four pounds. This is not 

 to be attributed to any want of nutritive power in the flesh 



• Archseologia Americana, vol. I. p. 426. 



Vol. I. 18 



