Travels în North America* 243 



I have already faid that the Savages break their Dogs very 

 early to that Sort of Hunting they are intended for ; I add, that 

 every Man muft have many, becaufe a great Number are de- 

 firoyed by the Teeth or the Horns of the wild Creatures, which 

 they attack with a Courage that nothing can daunt. Their 

 Matters tak« little Care to feed them : They live by what they 

 can catch, and this is not much, fo they are always very lean : 

 On the other Hand, they have little Hair, which makes them 

 very fenfiblc of the Cold. To keep themfelves warm, if they 

 can't come to the Fire, where it would be difficult for them all ta 

 find Room, though there ftiould be no Perfon in the Cabin, they 

 go and lie down on the firft they meet with ; and often one wakes 

 in the Night in a Surprize, almoft ftifled by two or three 

 Dogs. If they were a little more difcreet in placing themfelves, 

 their Company would not be very troublefome ; one could put up 

 with it well enough ; but they lie where they can : Drive 

 them away as often as you pleafe, they return dire6lly. ^Tis 

 much worfe in the Day-time ; as foon as any Meat appears, you 

 are incommoded with the Buftle they make to have their Share. 



A poor Milfionary is lying on the Ground leaning on his El- 

 bow near the Fire, to fay his Breviary, or to read a Book, flriving 

 as well as he can to endure the Smoke ; and he muft alfo bear 

 the Perfecution of a Dozen Dogs, which do nothing but run 

 over him backwards and forwards after a Piece of Meat they have 

 difcovered. If he has Need of a little Reff;, it is hard for him 

 to find a little Nook, where he may be free from this Vexation, 

 If they bring him any Thing to eat, the Dogs get their Nofes 

 in his Difli before he can have his Hand in it ; and often while 

 he is employed in defending his Portion againfl thofe that attack 

 him in Front, there comes one behind that carries off half of it, 

 or by running agai nil him, beats the Difh out of his Hands, and 

 fpills the Sagamitty in the Alhes. 



Oftentimes the Evils I have mentioned, are effaced by a 

 greater ; in Comparifon of which the others are nothing, ^ix. 

 Hunger. The Provifions they carry with them do not laft 

 long : They depend on the Chace, and that fails fometimes. It 

 is true, that the Savages can bear Hunger with as much Patience 

 as they take little Precaution to prevent it ; but they are fome- 

 times reduced to fuch Extremity, that they fink under it. 

 ^ , The Miiïionary, from whom I took this Account, was obliged, 

 in his firfl Winter encamping, to eat the Eel Skins and Elk Skins, 

 with which he had patched his CafTock ; after which he was 

 forced to eat young Branches, and the fofteft Bark of Trees, 

 Neverthelefs, he Itood this Trial, without îofmg his Health ; 

 but all PerfoRS have not his Strength, 



I i z The 



