NORTHERN OCEAN. 161 
‘When the Indians had plundered the feven 1771. 
tents of all the copper utenfils, which feemed the i 
only things worth their notice, they threw all the 
tents and tent-poles into the river, defiroyed a 
vaft quantity of dried falmon, mufk-oxcen flefh, 
and other provifions ; broke all the ftone kettles; 
; M and 
allude to, is made of the raw liver of a deer, cut in fmall pieces of about an 
inch fquare, and mixed up with the contents of the ftomach of the fame 
animal; and the farther digeftion has taken place, the better it is fuited to 
their tafte. It isimpoffible to defcribe or conceive the pleafure they feem 
to enjoy when eating fuch unaccountable food: nay, 1 have even feen 
them eat whofe handfuls of maggots that were produced in meat by fly- 
blows; anditis their conftant cuftom, when their nofes bleed by any ac- 
cident, to lick their blood into their mouths. and fwallow it. Indeed, if we 
confider the inhofpitable part of the globe they ave deftined to inhabit, 
and the great diftreffes to which they are frequently driven by hunger in 
confequence of it, we fhall no longer be furprized at finding they can relith 
any thing in common with the meaneft of the animal creation, but rather 
_ admire the wifdom and kindnefs of Providence in forming the palates and 
powers of all creatures in facha manner as is beft adapted to the food, cli- 
“mate, and every other circumftance which may be incident to their refpec- 
tive fituations. 
» Itis no lefs true, that thefe people, when I firft knew them, would not 
eat any of our provifions, fugar, raifins, figs, or even bread; for thongh 
fome of them would put a bit of it into their mouths, they foon {pit it out 
again witl: evident marks of diflike; fo that they had no greater relifh for 
our food than we had for theirs, At prefent, however, they will eat any 
part of our provifions, either frefh or falted ; and fome of them wil! drink 
a draft of porter, or a little brandy and water; and they are now fo far 
civilized, and attached to the Englifh, that Lam perfuaded any of the 
company’s fervants who could habituate themfelves to their diet and man- 
ner of life, might now live as fecure under their protection, as under that 
of any of the tribes of Indians who border on Hudfon’s Bay. 
They live ina ftate of perfect freedom; no one apparently claiming the 
fuperiority over, or acknowledging the lea(t fubordination to another, ex- 
cept what is cue from children to their parents,.or fuch of thei: kin as take 
care of them when they are young and incapable of providing for them- 
felves. There is, however, reafon to:think that; when grown up to man- 
hood, they pay fome attention to the advice of the old men, on account of 
their experience. 
