FRUIT-TREES, ETC. 109 



have no fruit trees., but if introduced, they 

 would no doubt thrive at the Colony. We get 

 a few raspberries in the woods, and strawberries 

 from the plains in summer ; and on the route 

 to York Factory, we meet with black and red 

 currants, gooseberries, and cranberries. There 

 is a root which is found in large quantities, 

 and generally called by the settlers, the Indian 

 potatoe. It strongly resembles the Jerusalem 

 artichoke, and is eaten by the natives in a raw 

 state ; but when boiled it is not badly flavoured. 

 The characteristic improvidence of the Indians, 

 and their precarious means of subsistence, will 

 often reduce them to extreme want, and I have 

 seen them collecting small roots in the swamps, 

 and eating the inner rind of the poplar tree, and 

 having recourse to a variety of berries, which 

 are found in abundance in many parts of the 

 country. 



