22 THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES 



MacDonald and others had added the whole commu- 

 nity to my medical practice, for those who were not sick 

 thought they were. I cheerfully did my best for all, 

 and was supposed to be persona grata. Just below the 

 Cascade Rapids was a famous sucker pool, and after 

 we had camped three Indians came, saying that the 

 pool was full of suckers — would I lend them my canoe 

 to get some? 



Away they went, and from afar I was horrified to 

 see them clubbing the fish with my beautiful thin- 

 bladed maple paddles. They returned with a boat 

 load of 3- and 4-pound Suckers (Catostormis) and 2 

 paddles broken. Each of their friends came and re- 

 ceived one or two fine fish, for there were plenty. I, 

 presumably part owner of the catch, since I owned the 

 boat, selected one small one for myself, whereupon the 

 Indian insolently demanded 25 cents for it; and these 

 were the men I had been freely doctoring for two weeks! 

 Not to speak of the loaned canoe and broken paddles! 

 Then did I say a few things to all and sundry — stinging, 

 biting things, ungainsayable and forcible things — and 

 took possession of all the fish that were left, so the In- 

 dians slunk off in sullen silence. 



Gratitude seems an unknown feeling among these 

 folk; you may give presents and help and feed them 

 all you like, the moment you want a slight favour of 

 them they demand the uttermost cent. In attempt- 

 ing to analyse this I was confronted by the fact that 

 among themselves they are kind and hospitable, and 

 at length discovered that their attitude toward us is 

 founded on the ideas that all white men are very rich, 



