112 



Harmon's journal. 



to eat and smoke our pipes.— Indians show great 

 hospitality to strangers, before they have been 

 long acquainted with civilized people, after which, 

 they adopt many of their customs ; but they are 

 by no means always gainers, by the exchange. 



Monday, 5. On the 2nd, the remainder of 

 our people arrived, and soon after, I commenced 

 dealing out spirits to the Natives ; and they con- 

 tinued to drink during all that day and the follow- 

 ing night. We were, therefore, prevented from 

 resigning ourselves to sleep. For though the In- 

 dians are naturally well disposed toward the 

 white people, and seldom begin a quarrel with us. 

 and will even receive many insults, before they 

 attempt to' defend themselves; yet when drunk, 

 they often behave like mad men or devils, and 

 need to be narrowly watched. 



This morning, I sent six of my people to the 

 fort with sledges loaded with furs and provisions, in 

 order to obtain another supply of goods, to en- 

 able us to go and trade with another large band 

 of Indians, who are about two days' march from 

 this, into the plains. 



Tuesday, 6. North side of the Great DeviVs Lake, 

 or as the Natives call it, Much-c-man-e-to Sa-ky-e- 

 gun. As I had nothing of importance to attend to, 

 while our people would be absent in their trip to 

 and from the fort, and was desirous of seeing my 



