270 THE LOUCHEUX INDIANS. 



them. They were now preparing for a grand dance 

 upon her arrival, which is always a most important 

 event and season of rejoicing to them. Upon a 

 line on the strand Imng several eagle-skins, with the 

 feathers of which they would ornament themselves on 

 the festal occasion. They were to-day painted in 

 different ways and varieties of colour ; some with 

 broad patches across the face ; others with stripes, 

 and having one cheek or eyebrow of a different hue 

 to its opposite. I observed one or two with 

 " wampum" (a kind of long hollow shell), through 

 the septum of the nose; but understood that this 

 appendage is gradually falling into disuse since the 

 settlement of whites in this quarter. The Indians we 

 were among belonged to the large tribe of Loucheux, 

 or Quarrelers, and were particularly distinguished by 

 the title of "Fond du Lac Loucheux," that being the 

 name of an enlargement in this, the Peel River, five 

 days' jom'ney (about a hundred miles) above the fort, 

 where these Indians congregate in great numbers to 

 fish. Another tribe called "Rats" come across the 

 mountains from the Rat river with meat and furs to 

 barter. The two tribes speak the same language, but 

 have a somewhat different pronunciation of it. The 

 very obliging communications of Mr. Hardisty gave 

 them a character for great indolence and improvi- 



