120 TRAVELS THROUGH 



of brutes, and that this vice is corre6ted with 

 difficulty even amongft the French. The In- 

 dians imitate them eafily in it, and fay the white 

 people have taught them to drink the fiery wa- 

 ter *. 



One day my Indian found the door of the 

 King's magazine open ; he fneaked in like a fer- 

 pent, got to a barrel of brandy, and flied half 

 of it, by endeavouring to fill a bottle with it. 

 This accident obliged me to difmifs him ; how- 

 ever, as he was a good hunter, and had only one 

 fault, his wife begged me to give him phyfiCj 

 to prevent his drinking : I willingly undertook 

 the cure, with the alfiftance of his wife and rela- 

 tions. Once this hunter was drunk, but defired 

 flill more brandy ; I got the people to tell him 

 I had fome, but that I was very tenacious of it. 

 He came immediately, and afked me for fome : 

 I faid, I had brandy, but I would not give it 

 for nothing. He faid he was poor; however^ 

 if I would take his wife, he would hire her to 

 me for a month. I anfwered, that the chiefs of 

 the white warriors did not come to the red men 

 to enjoy their wives ; that if he would fell me 

 his fon, I would willingly take him as a Have, 



and 



* Thus they call brandy. 



