66 M'Keevor'a Voyage to Hudson's Bay. 



quertce, it was not without the interference of some principal 

 Indians, whose liberality of sentiment was more extensive 

 than in the others, tljat the poor creature's life was saved. Many 

 of the men cleaned and loaded their guns ; others had their 

 bows and arrows ready ; and even the women took possession 

 of the hatchets, to kill this poor inoffensive creature, for no 

 crime but that of travelling about 200 miles by himself, un- 

 assisted by fire-arms for his support on his journey." 



It is asserted that the southern Indians, if once they are 

 driven to this unnatural practice,/ become so fond of it that 

 iro person is safe in their company. They are, however, de- 

 spised and neglected for ever after. 



From the instances which I have here related, particularly 

 that by Mr. Hearne, we may conclude that cannibalism 1 has 

 always originated in extreme want, though it may afterwards 

 be continued from other motives. 



During this frightful season, the whole animal creation, in- 

 stead of the usual variety which exists during the summer, 

 puts on the " winter robe of purest white." Even animals 

 which have been brought from this country become, at this 

 period, of a milk-white colour. It is a difficult matter to say 

 what purposes in the animal economy this singular change 

 may serve. It once occurred to me, that perhaps a white 

 surface might possess less radiating powers, and in this way 

 preserve to the animal body a quantity of caloric, which would 

 otherwise be dissipated by the intense cold of the climate. 

 I found, however, that on placing a canister, constructed after 

 Mr. Lesslie's directions, and on which I had pasted portions 

 of different coloured skins in the focus of a concave mirror, 

 that there was not the slightest difference in the effects pro- 

 duced on the differential thermometer. There is, in fact, but 

 little known of a satisfactory nature on this interesting sub- 

 ject ; I shall, therefore, drop it here, lest, by substituting con- 

 jecture in the place of more solid information, I might disgust 

 the sensible reader. Another change is observed to take 

 place in the animal creation at this time, the wise intentions 

 of which are sufficiently obvious : the skin of every animal is 

 covered with a finer and longer fur* than they possessed dur- 



* A corresponding change, we find, takes place in warm climates. Thus 

 the sheep in Africa has a coarse hair substituted in place of its wool ; and the 

 dog loses its coat entirely, and has a smooth and soft skin. Goats also un- 

 dergo a considerable alteration. A person unacquainted with this change, 

 would hardly believe that the Cashmere shawls, which are sold at such an 

 mormons high price, could be the produce of that animal. REES'S Cyclop. 



Ai A 



