Harmon's journal. 



Ill 



and shoot, with their bows and arrows, what num- 

 ber they please, or drive them into parks and kill 

 them at their leisure. In fact, those Indians, 

 who reside in the large plains or prairies, are the 

 most independent, and appear to be the most con- 

 tented and happy people upon the face of the 

 earth. They subsist upon the flesh of the buffa- 

 loe, and of the skins of that animal they make 

 the greatest part of their clothing, which is both 

 warm and convenient. Their tents and beds are 

 also made of the skins of the same animal. 



The Crees and Assiniboins procure their 

 livelihood with so much ease, that they have but 

 little to confine them at home. They therefore 

 employ much of their time, in waging war with 

 their neighbours. 



Thursday r , March h Es-qui-an-a-wach-a, or 

 the last Mountain, or rather Hill ; for there are 

 no mountains in this part of the country. Here I 

 arrived this evening, having left Lac La Peche on 

 the 28th ultimo, in company with my interpreter 

 and seven men. The men, I ordered to encamp 

 at a short distance from this, and to join me early 

 tomorrow morning ; as it is more convenient and 

 safe, especially when we are not in our forts, 

 to give the Indians spirits to drink in the day time, 

 than in the night. On our arrival, we were invit- 

 ed to the tents of several of the principal Indians, 



