Harmon's journal. 



197 



it, according to the custom of the Canadians, in 

 drinking and fighting. Some of the principal In- 

 dians of this place, desired us to allow them to re- 

 main at the fort, that they might see our people 

 drink.. As soon as they began to be a little intox- 

 icated, and to quarrel among themselves, the Na- 

 tives began to be apprehensive, that something 

 unpleasant might befal them, also. They, there- 

 fore hid themselves under beds, and elsewhere, 

 saying, that they thought the white people had 

 run mad, for they appeared not to know what 

 they were about. They perceived that those 

 who were the most beastly in the early part of 

 the day, became the most quiet in the latter part, 

 in view of which, they exclaimed, " the senses of 

 the white people have returned to them again," 

 and they appeared not a little surprised at the 

 change ; for, it was the first time, that they had 

 ev%f seen a person intoxicated. 



Sunday, 27. This day the Natives have burn- 

 ed the corpse of one of their chiefs, who died in 

 the early part of this month. Shortly after his 

 death, one of his nieces painted her face with Ver- 

 million; and, in other respects arrayed herself in 

 the gayest manner possible. Her mother, observ- 

 ing this unbecoming conduct, reproved her in the 

 following manner. " Are you not ashamed, my 

 daughter," said she, " to appear so gaily clad, so 



