214 FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS 



boiled yam, saying, he would not eat it, but plant 

 it to-morrow. He thought the Radackers were 

 still too stupid ! The pork likewise pleased them, 

 but they did not like the wine; a glass, which 

 went round, they only touched with their lips. 

 Kadu called them fools, who did not know what 

 w^as good ; they should follow his example as he 

 was a man of experience ; at the same time he 

 emptied the glass in one draught. After supper 

 they again danced and played on the drums, and 

 when Kadu stepped into the circle to dance in 

 the European fashion, he excited a general laugh, 

 and Lagediack thought that our dances looked 

 as if we had lost our wits. Before we retired to 

 rest I asked Lagediack whether he was acquainted 

 with the Ralick chain, as he had never spoken to 

 me about it j he said he had often been there, and 

 I again observed on this occasion how difficult it 

 is to draw information like this from savages, if 

 one is not quite master of their language. They 

 will never relate any thing, but answer only 

 to such questions as are put to them, supposing 

 that we are wise, and raised far above them with- 

 out being instructed in any thing. M. Chamisso 

 also often found great difficulty in procuring in- 

 formation from Kadu. Lagediack now told me 

 if I sailed from Eregup to the S. W. I should in a 

 few days come up to the group of Odja *, which is 



* The names of Otdia in the Radack chain and Odja in the 

 RaHck chain are so similar to each other, that care must be 

 taken not to confound them. 



