24 



ABORIGINES, 



Many Indian families came frequently to the 

 Fort, and as is common, I believe, to all the 

 aborigines were of a copper colour com- 

 plexion, with black coarse hair. Whenever 

 they dressed for any particular occasion^ they 

 anointed themselves all over with charcoal and 

 grease, and painted their eyebrows, lips and 

 forehead, or cheeks, with vermillion. Some 

 had their noses perforated through the car- 

 tilage, in which was fixed part of a goose 

 quill, or a piece of tin, worn as an ornament, 

 while others strutted with the skin of a raven 

 ingeniously folded as a head dress, to present 

 the beak over the forehead, and the tail spread- 

 ing over the back of the neck. Their clothing 

 consisted principally of a blanket, a bufFaloe 

 skin, and leggings, with a cap, which hung 

 down their back, and was fastened to a belt 

 round the waist. Scout ay waubo, or fire water, 

 (rum) was their principal request; to obtain 

 which they appeared ready to barter any thing, 

 or every thing they possessed. The children 

 ran about almost naked, and were treated by 

 their parents with all the instinctive fondness of 

 animals. They know of no restraint, and as 

 they grow up into life, they are left at full 

 liberty to be absolute masters of their own 

 actions. They were very lively, and several of 



