274 Expedition to the 



of their nation to protect them. On their march they endea> 

 vour to make as great a display of force as practicable, in 

 order to intimidate any of their enemies that may be lurking 

 to spy out their condition. With this view, they are careful 

 to pitch their lodges or tents at the places of their encamp- 

 ment, in such a manner, and in such numbers, as to give the 

 impression at a distance, that they are numerous and formi- 

 dable. We have witnessed a hunting party on their march, 

 consisting of not more than one hundred persons, including 

 men, women, and children, yet at their encampment, more 

 than thirty lodges were pitched, each of which would ac- 

 commodate at least, twelve adult persons. 



It is an opinion generally credited, that the Indians are 

 possessed of strong natural appetites for ardent spirits, but 

 there is at least room to doubt of its being well founded. 

 That their appetites for them are often strong and ungovern- 

 able, is very certain, but they may be considered as factitious 

 rather than natural, having been created by occasional in- 

 dulgences in the use of intoxicating liquors. Instances are 

 not rare, in which Indians have refused to accept liquor 

 when offered them. After a long abstinence from food, any 

 thing calculated to allay the cravings of the appetite is ea- 

 gerly swallowed; and on such occasions, nothing perhaps 

 produces such an effect more speedily, than spirituous liquor. 

 Indians, while lounging about a trading establishment, are 

 often destitute of food for a considerable time, and can ob- 

 tain no other kind of refreshment from the trader but liquor, 

 which is bestowed partly in exchange for commodities they 

 may have to dispose of, and partly by way of encouraging 

 them to return to him with the products of their next hunt. 

 A small draught, on such occasions, produces intoxication, 

 and the sudden transition from a state of gnawing hunger 

 to that of unconcerned inebriety, cannot fail to make them 

 passionately fond of a beverage that can thus change their 

 condition so much to their immediate satisfaction. In their 

 use of ardent spirits, the Indians appear to be less captivated 

 with their taste than with their exhilarating effects. The 

 quality of liquor is not a subject of discrimination with them; 

 provided it has sufficient strength to inebriate, they are satis- 

 fied, let its character in other respects be what it may. Hav- 

 ing contracted the habit of intoxication, they seldom appear 

 thankful for liquor unless it has been bestowed in such quan- 

 tities as are sufficient to produce that effect. 



In the indulgence of their appetites, they display but few, 



