18 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



transaction as depicted is typical of what usually happens 

 when the Indians try to secure their advances. Furthermore, 

 I give the dialogue in detail, as perchance some reader may feel 

 as Thoreau did, when he said: "It would be some advantage 

 to live a primitive and frontier hfe, though in the midst of an 

 outward civilization, if only to learn what are the gross neces- 

 saries of life and what methods have been taken to obtain 

 them; or even to look over the old day-books of the mer- 

 chants, to see what it was that men most commonly bought at 

 the stores, what they stored, that is, what are the grossest 

 groceries." 



But while the following outfit might be considered the 

 Indian's grossest groceries, the articles are not really neces- 

 saries at all for him; for, to go to the extreme, a good woodsman 

 can hunt without even gun, axe, knife, or matches, and can live 

 happily, absolutely independent of our civilization. 



As the Factor was busy with another Indian when the Chief 

 entered — for Oo-koo-hoo was the chief of the Ojibways of 

 that district — he waited patiently, as he would not deign to do 

 business with a clerk. When he saw the trader free, he greeted : 



"Quay, quay, HugemowF' (Good day, Master). 



" Gude day, man Oo-koo-hoo, what can I do for ye the day .^ " 

 amicably responded the Factor. 



" Master, it is this way. I am about to leave for my hunting 

 grounds; but this time I am going to spend the winter upon a 

 new part of them, where I have not hunted for years, and 

 where game of all kinds will be plentiful. Therefore, I want 

 you to give me hberal advances so that my hunt will not be 

 hindered." 



"Fegs, Oo-koo-hoo, ma freen', yon's an auld, auld farrant. 

 But ye're well kenn'd for a leal, honest man; an' sae, I'se no be 

 unco haird upon ye." 



So saying, the Factor made him a present of a couple of pounds 

 of flour, half a pound of pork, half a pound of sugar, a quarter 



