20 CHEPEWYANS. 



from their northern neighbours, the Eskimos, and 

 their southern ones, the Crees, though the temp- 

 tations to which they are exposed are equally 

 great. No precautions for the safety of our pro- 

 perty at Fort Confidence were required. The na- 

 tives carefully avoided touching the magnetic in- 

 struments, thermometers, and other things placed 

 outside the house, and could be trusted in any of 

 the rooms without our finding a single article dis- 

 placed. Our dining-hall was open to all comers; 

 and though the smallness of our separate apart- 

 ments caused us to exclude hangers on, new comers 

 were permitted to satisfy their curiosity respecting 

 our occupations, and they always squatted them- 

 selves down at the door, and looked on in silence, 

 wondering, as we were told, at our constant 

 writing. From M. La Fleche, the intelligent mis- 

 sionary at Isle a la Crosse, I received a similar 

 character of the southern part of the nation, who, 

 if they find any article left by the voyagers on 

 the portages, are sure to bring it in to be claimed 

 at the forts. 



Of the peculiarities of their religious belief I 

 could gain no certain information. The inter- 

 preters to whom I applied for assistance disliked 

 the task, and invariably replied, " As for these 

 savages, they know nothing ; they are ignorant 

 people." The majority of the nation recognise a 



