( 101 ) 



Here are a great number of fimples which the 

 Indians are faid to ufe at a venture, without any 

 other principle than a few flight experiments, which 

 Jead them ibmetimes into confiderable rhifta 

 for the fame remedies do not always act in the fame 

 manner on every conftitution, even when affected 

 with the fame diftemper ; but thefe people are in- 

 capable of making fuch diftinctions. There is 

 one thing which has always furprized me, and 

 that is the impenetrable fecrecj which they ob- 

 ferve with refpecl to their fimples, or the little cu- 

 rio fit y of the French to acquire the knowledge of 

 them. If this be not the fault of thefe latter, no- 

 thing can, in my opinion, be a ftronger proof, 

 that the Indians do not behold us with pleafure in 

 their country : but of this we have other proofs 

 and equally undoubted. It may alio be, that they 

 entertain the fame opinion with regard to their 

 fimples, which we arc affured they hold with re- 

 fpecl to their mines; which is that they would cer- 

 tainly die, were they to difcover any of them to 

 (hangers. 



The Indians of thefe parts are naturally thieves, 

 and look upon all they can catch as lawful prize. It 

 is however true, that if one difcovers early that he 

 has loft any thing, it is fufficient to advertife the 

 chief of it, and you are fure of recovering it ; but 

 you muft give this chief more than the value of the 

 thing, befides which, he always demands fomething 

 for him who has found it, who is probably the thief 

 himfelf. I was in the fame cafe on the morrow 

 after my arrival, in which I had not theleaft favour 

 or indulgence fhown me: thefe barbarians will 

 rather maintain a war than relax ever fo little in 

 v this point. 



H 3 Some 



