NORTHERN OCEAN 155 



far exceeded what I could expect from so uncivilized a tribe, 1771. 

 and I was exceedingly sorry that I had nothing of value to-''^°^' 

 offer them. However, such articles as I had, I distributed 

 among them, and they were thankfully received by them. 

 Though they have some European commodities among them, 

 which they purchase from the Northern Indians, the same 

 articles from the hands of an Englishman were more prized. 

 As I was the first whom they had ever seen, and in all proba- 

 bility might be the last, it was curious to see how they flocked 

 about me, and expressed as much desire to examine me from 

 top to toe, as an European Naturalist would a non-descript 

 animal. They, however, found and pronounced me to be a 

 perfect human being, except in the colour of my hair [122] 

 and eyes : the former, they said, was like the stained hair of a 

 buffaloe's tail, and the latter, being light, were like those of a 

 gull. The whiteness of my skin also was, in their opinion, no 

 ornament, as they said it resembled meat which had been 

 sodden in water till all the blood was extracted. On the 

 whole, I was viewed as so great a curiosity in this part of the 

 world, that during my stay there, whenever I combed my head, 

 some or other of them never failed to ask for the hairs that 

 came off, which they carefully wrapped up, saying, " When I 

 see you again, you shall again see your hair." 



The day after our arrival at Congecathav/hachaga, Maton- 23d. 

 abbee dispatched his brother, and several Copper Indians, to 

 Copper-mine River, with orders to acquaint any Indians they 

 might meet, with the reason of my visiting those parts, and 

 also when they might probably expect us at that river. By 

 the bearers of this message I sent a present of tobacco and 

 some other things, to induce any strangers they met to be 

 ready to give us assistance, either by advice, or in any other 

 way which might be required. 



As Matonabbee and the other Indians thought it advisable 

 to leave all the women at this place, and proceed to the 

 Copper-mine River without them, it was thought necessary 



