NORTHERN OCEAN. 203 
and then, after covering them well up with deer 177K. 
fkins, €c. they take their leave, and walk away ~V~ 
crying. September. 
Sometimes perfons thus left, recover; and 
come up with their friends, or wander about till 
they meet with other Indians, whom they accom- 
pany till they again join their relations. Inftan- 
ces of this kind are feldom known. ‘The poor 
woman above mentioned, however, came up with 
us three feveral times, after having been left in- 
the manner defcribed. At length, poor crea- 
ture! fhe dropt behind, and no one attempted to 
go back in fearch of her. 
A cuftom apparently fo unnatural is perhaps 
not to be found among any other of the human 
race: if properly confidered, however, it may 
‘with juftice be afcribed to neceflity and felf-pre- 
fervation, rather than to the want of humanity 
and focial feeling, which ought to be the charac. 
teriftic of men, as the nobleft part of the creati- 
on. Neceflity, added to national cuftom, contri- 
butes principally to make fcenes of this kind lefs 
fhocking to thofe people, than they muft appear 
to the more civilized part of mankind. 
During the early part of September, the wea- 
ther was in general cold, with much fleet and 
fnow ; which feemed to promife that the Winter 
would fet in early. Deer at this time being very 
plentiful, and the few woods we met with afford- 
_ ing tent-poles and firing, the Indians propofed to 
remain where we were fome time, in order to 
drefs 
