338 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
cate.itto the whole tribe ; but, on the contrary, 
the difeafe is never known to fpread. In the | 
younger fort it always attacks the hands and feet, 
not even fparing the palms and foles. ‘hofe of — 
riper years generally have it about the wrifts, in- _ 
fteps, and pofteriors; and in the latter particu. | 
larly, the blotches, or boils as they may jufily be | 
called are often as large as the top of a man’s” 
thumb. This diforder moft frequently makes 
its appearance in the Summer, while the indians — 
are out in the barren ground; and though it is 
by no means reckoned dangerous, yet it is fo ob- 
flinate, as not to yield to any medicine that has 
ever been applied to it while at the Company’s Fac- 
tory. And as the natives themfelves never make | 
ufe of any medicines of their own preparing, 
Nature alone works the cure, which is never per- 
formed in lefs than twelve or eighteen months ; — 
and fome of them are troubled with this difagree- 
able and Joathfome diforder for years before they 
are perfectly cured, and then a dark livid mark 
remains on thofe parts of the fkin which have 
been affected, for many years afterwards, and in 
fome during life. 
When any of the principal Northern Indians 
die, it is generally believed that they are conjur- 
ed to death, either by fome of their own coun- | 
irymen, by fome of the Southern Indians, or by 
fome of the Efquimaux : too frequently the ful 
picion falls on the latter tribe, which is the grand — 
reafon of their never being at peace with thofe. | 
poor | 
