320 



THE POLAR WUKLD. 



Their former conquerors now partly migrated to the south, and leaving the 

 forest region, where they had hunted the reindeer and the elk, spread over tlie 

 prairies of the Saskatchewan, where they now pursued the herds of bison 

 sometimes driving them over a i)recipice, or cliasing them on foot throu<>-h the 

 snow. ]>ut in their new abodes they became engaged in constant feuds witli 

 their new neighbors the Assiniboins and Blackfeet, who of course resented 

 their intrusion. 



The romance in which the manners and character of tlie Indians are por- 

 trayed might lead us to attribute to these people a loftiness of soul for wliich 

 it would be vain to look in the present day, and which without much skepticism 

 we may assert they never really i)0ssessed. Actions prompted only by the ca- 

 price of a barbarous jjcople have been considered as the results of refined sen- 

 timent; and savage cunning, seen through the false medium of jn-ejudice, as- 

 sumed the nobler jjroportions of a far-sighted policy. But thougli the history 

 of the wars of the Indians among themselves and with the Europeans affords 

 but few instances of heroism, it abounds in traits of revolting cruelty, and in 

 pictures of indescribable wretchedness, 



A large party of Blackfeet once made a successful foray in the territory of 

 the Crees. But meanwhile the latter surprised the camp where the aggressors 

 Iiad left their wives and children ; and thus, Avhen the Blackfeet returned to 

 their tents, they found desolation and death where they looked for a joyful wel- 

 come. In their despair they cast away their arms and their booty, and retired 

 to the mountains, where for three days and nights they wailed and mourned. 



A UEKD OF BISON. 



