< 01 RAME . 109 



lot, and longed to be with them. As to the Indians, they were delight- 

 ed with Courame, whom they had recognized, and stood gazing upon 

 her with the greatest astonishment. It was an interesting sight to 

 see those inhabitants of the forest mingle with the people in the town. 



They were brought to the governor, and eagerly asked for muskets, 

 bill-hooks, axes, and other tools or instruments, of which they had 

 great want. The Norague women displayed their rush baskets and 

 their earthen vases, which they gave to the ladies, receiving in ex- 

 change jet necklaces, bracelets, and other articles of ornament. Dur- 

 iug this time, Courame mixed with them : she sought for her mother, 

 who, not suspecting that her daughter still existed, had not quitted 

 the huts. The governor received the Indians with the most free cor- 

 diality ; for, as before stated, his ardent wish was to make them enjoy 

 the sweets of civilization. But no sooner were they arrived than they 

 began to talk of returning home. In order to detain them, the go- 

 vernor endeavoured to interest their curiosity, but nothing could cap- 

 tivate them. The admiration of savages is flighty and evanescent : 

 Amongtt them, the passion of self-preservation is the only permanent 

 one. Thus they observed nothing extraordinary in the paintings and 

 master-pieces of art which were shewn them: they always thought the 

 scenes of Nature preferable, and longed to return to them. Every 

 thing that did not relate to their especial wants made no impression 

 upon them. The mirrors which they found in the saloon of the go- 

 vernor did not astonish them, because they had often seen themselves 

 reflected in the Approuague river. No surprise was expressed when 

 pictures were placed before them, for they only fancied they saw the 

 image of an object in the water. At first they were delighted by the 

 wind instruments which composed the band of the regiment, so supe- 

 rior to their own flutes of bamboo, from which only the most mono- 

 tonous sounds could be drawn. The Indians like tumultuous and 

 loud noises, which do not express anything fixed or determined. 



M. Le Baron de Besner neglected nothing which could prevent the 

 deputation experiencing ennui or constraint. To amuse them, he gave 

 a grand feast ; and what astonished them most was to see the num- 

 ber of dishes which appeared successively. They could not imagine 

 the use of so many of the superfluities which were already introduced 

 in the houses of the rich Europeans. After the repast, various 

 games were introduced for their entertainment, when Courame ap- 

 peared before them and executed a Norague dance in an enchanting 

 manner, embellished by all the improvements of art. The Indians 

 surrounded her and seemed to follow every step by observing the 



