284 A JOURNEY TO THE 



1772. ceding day ; in the morning, however, we moved on eleven 



^^" miles to the East, and then met several strange Indians, who 



informed us that a few others, who had a tolerable cargo of 



furrs, and were going to the Factory that Summer, were not 



far distant. 



[289] On receiving this intelligence, my guide, Matonab- 

 bee, sent a messenger to desire their company. This was soon 

 complied with, as it is an universal practice with the Indian 

 Leaders, both Northern and Southern, when going to the 

 Company's Factory, to use their influence and interest in 

 canvassing for companions ; as they find by experience that a 

 large gang gains them much respect. Indeed, the generality 

 of Europeans who reside in those parts, being utterly unac- 

 quainted with the manners and customs of the Indians, have 

 conceived so high an opinion of those Leaders, and their 

 authority, as to imagine that all who accompany them on 

 those occasions are entirely devoted to their service and com- 

 mand all the year ; but this is so far from being the case, that 

 the authority of those great men, when absent from the Com- 

 pany's Factory, never extends beyond their own family ; and 

 the trifling respect which is shown them by their country- 

 men during their residence at the Factory, proceeds only from 

 motives of interest. 



The Leaders have a very disagreeable task to perform on 

 those occasions ; for they are not only obliged to be the mouth- 

 piece, but the beggars for all their friends and relations for 

 whom they have a regard, as well as for those whom at other 

 times they have reason to fear. Those unwelcome commis- 

 sions, which are imposed on them by their followers, joined 

 to their own desire of being thought men of great consequence 

 and interest with the English, [290] make them very trouble- 

 some. And if a Governor deny them any thing which they ask, 

 though it be only to give away to the most worthless of their 

 gang, they immediately turn sulky and impertinent to the 

 highest degree ; and however rational they may be at other 



