312 A JOURNEY TO THE 



or slip of leather, made fast to the head ; and the bight is put 

 across the shoulders of the person who [325] hauls the sledge, 

 so as to rest against the breast. This contrivance, though so 

 simple, cannot be improved by the most ingenious collar-maker 

 in the world. 



Their snow-shoes differ from all others made use of in 

 those parts ; for though they are of the galley kind, that is, 

 sharp-pointed before, yet they are always to be worn on one 

 foot, and cannot be shifted from side to side, like other snow- 

 shoes ; for this reason the inner-side of the frames are almost 

 straight, and the outer-side has a very large sweep. The 

 frames are generally made of birch-wood, and the netting is 

 composed of thongs of deer-skin ; but their mode of filling 

 that compartment where the foot rests, is quite different from 

 that used among the Southern Indians. 



Their clothing, which chiefly consists of deer-skins in the 

 hair, makes them very subject to be lousy ; but that is so far 

 from being thought a disgrace, that the best among them 

 amuse themselves with catching and eating these vermin ; of 

 which they are so fond, that the produce of a lousy head or 

 garment affords them not only pleasing amusement, but a 

 delicious repast. My old guide, Matonabbee, was so remark- 

 ably fond of those little vermin, that he frequently set five or 

 six of his strapping wives to work to louse their hairy deer- 

 skin shifts, the produce of which being always very consider- 

 able, he eagerly received with both hands, and licked them 

 in as fast, and with as good a grace, as [326] any European 

 epicure would the mites in a cheese. He often assured me 

 that such amusement was not only very pleasing, but that the 

 objects of the search were very good ; for which I gave him 

 credit, telling him at the same time, that though I endeavoured 

 to habituate myself to every other part of their diet, yet as 

 I was but a sojourner among them, I had no inclination to 

 accustom myself to such dainties as I could not procure in 

 that part of the world where I was most inclined to reside. 



