NORTHERN OCEAN. 213 
were fo numerous in the fir trees, and fo tame, 1771. 
that I have known an Indian kill near twenty of 
them in a day with his bow and arrows. ‘The 
Northern Indians call this {pecies of the partridge 
Day; and though their flefh is generally very 
black and bitter, occafioned by their feeding on 
the brufh of the fir tree, yet they make a variety, 
or change of diet, and are thought exceedingly 
good, particularly by the natives, who, though 
capable of living fo hard, and at times eating ve- 
ry ungrateful food, are neverthelefs as fond of 
variety as any people whom I ever faw; and will 
go as great lengths, according to their circumftan- 
ces, to gratify their palates, as the greateft epi- 
cure in England. As a proof of this aflertion, I 
have frequently known Matonabbee, and others 
who could afford it, for the fake of variety only, 
fend fome of their young men to kill a few par- 
tridges at the expence of more ammunition than 
would have killed deer fufficient to have main- 
tained their families many days; whereas the par- 
tridges were always eaten up at one meal: andto 
heighten the luxury on thefe occafions, the par- 
tridges are boiled in a kettle of fheer fat, which it 
mutt be allowed renders them beyond all defcrip- 
tion finer flavoured than when boiled in water or 
common broth. I have alfo eat deer-fkins boil- 
ed in fat, which were exceedingly good. 
As during our ftay at Anaw’d Lake feveral of 
the Indians, were fickly, the doors undertook 
to adminifter relief; particularly to one man, who 
: had 
: 
November. 
