300 A JOURNEY TO THE 



if he did not, he might give away the whole of the Company's 

 goods, and by degrees all the Northern [308] tribe would make 

 a trade of begging, instead of bringing furrs, to purchase what 

 they want. It may truly be said, that they possess a consider- 

 able degree of deceit, and are very complete adepts in the art 

 of flattery, which they never spare as long as they find that it 

 conduces to their interest, but not a moment longer. They 

 take care always to seem attached to a new Governor, and 

 flatter his pride, by telling him that they look up to him as 

 the father of their tribe, on whom they can safely place their 

 dependance ; and they never fail to depreciate the generosity 

 of his predecessor, however extensive that might have been, 

 however humane or disinterested his conduct ; and if aspersing 

 the old, and flattering the new Governor, has not the desired 

 effect in a reasonable time, they represent him as the worst of 

 characters, and tell him to his face that he is one of the most 

 cruel of men ; that he has no feeling for the distresses of their 

 tribe, and that many have perished for want of proper assist- 

 ance, (which, if it be true, is only owing to want of humanity 

 among themselves,) and then they boast of having received ten 

 times the favours and presents from his predecessor. It is 

 remarkable that those are most lavish in their praises, who 

 have never either deserved or received any favours from him. 

 In time, however, this language also ceases, and they are per- 

 fectly reconciled to the man whom they would willingly have 

 made a fool, and say, " he is no child, and not to be deceived 

 by them." 



[309] They differ so much from the rest of mankind, that 

 harsh uncourteous usage seems to agree better with the gener- 

 ality of them, particularly the lower class, than mild treatment ; 

 for if the least respect be shown them, it makes them intoler- 

 ably insolent ; and though some of their leaders may be 

 exempt from this imputation, yet there are but few even of 

 them who have sense enough to set a proper value on the 

 favours and indulgences which are granted to them while they 



