190 



Harmon's journal. 



would be willing to embark, who attaches much 

 value to life. The remainder of our hands are 

 employed in transporting our baggage, which is 

 still behind, to this place. They are assisted in 

 doing this, by some of the Natives, who are Sicau- 

 nies. They have just returned from the other 

 side of the Rocky Mountain, where they go to 

 pass the summer months. During the winter 

 season, they remain on this side of the Mountain, 

 where they find buffaloes, moose and deer. On 

 the other side, none of these animals, excepting a 

 few straggling ones, are to be found. 



The Sicaunies are a quiet, inoffensive people, 

 whose situation exposes them to peculiar difficulties 

 and distresses. When they proceed to the west 

 side of the mountain, the Natives of that region, 

 who are Tacullies and Atenas, attack and kill 

 many of them ; and when they are on this side, 

 the Beaver Indians and Crees, are continually 

 making war upon them. Being thus surrounded 

 by enemies, against whom they are too feeble 

 successfully to contend, they frequently suffer 

 much for want of food ; for when on the west 

 side, they dare not, at all times, visit those places, 

 where fish are in plenty, and when on the east 

 side, they are frequently afraid to visit those parts, 

 where animals abound. They are compelled, 

 therefore, oftentimes to subsist upon the roots, 



