NORTHERN OCEAN. 179 
though feveral of the Copper Indians have vifited 1774, 
Churchill, in the capacity of fervants to the Nor- say 
thern Indians, and were generally fent back load- 
ed with prefents for their countrymen, yet the 
Northern Indians always plundered them of the 
whole foon after they left the Fort. This kind of 
treatment, added to the many inconveniencies 
that attend fo long ajourney, are great obftacles 
in their way; otherwife it would be as poflible 
for them to bring their own goods to market, as 
for the Northern Indians to go fo far to purchafe 
them on their own account, and have the fame 
diftance to bring them as the firft proprietors 
would have had. But it isa political fcheme of our 
Northern traders to prevent fuch an intercourfe, 
as it would greatly leflen their confequence and 
emolument. Superftition, indeed, will, in all pro- 
bability, be a lafting barrier againft thofe people 
‘ever having a fettled communication with our 
Factory; as few of them chufe to travel in coun- 
tries fo remote from their own, under a pretence 
that the change of air and provifions (though ex- 
actly the fame to which they are accuftomed) are 
highly prejudicial to their health; and that not 
one out of three of thofe who have undertaken 
the journey, have ever lived to return. The 
firft of thefe reafons is evidently no more than 
grofs fuperltition ; and though the latter is but 
too true, it has always been owing to the treache- 
ry and cruelty of the Northern Indians, who took 
them under their protection. | 
BM 2 Ic 
