110 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



tions ; and as ours were of a kind best per- 

 formed in a warm room, we imperceptibly 

 acquired a sedentary habit. In going out, 

 however, we never suffered the slightest in- 

 convenience from the change of tempera- 

 ture, though the thermometer, in the open 

 air, stood occasionally thirty degrees below 

 zero. 



The tribe of Indians, who reside in the 

 vicinity, and frequent these establishments, 

 is that of the Crees, or Knisteneaux. They 

 were formerly a powerful and numerous 

 nation, which ranged over a very extensive 

 country, and were very successful in their 

 predatory excursions against their neigh- 

 bours, particularly the northern Indians, 

 and some tribes on the Saskatchawan and 

 Beaver Rivers ; but they have long ceased 

 to be held in any fear, and are now, per- 

 haps, the most harmless and inoffensive of 

 the whole Indian race. This change is en- 

 tirely to be attributed to their intercourse 

 with Europeans ; and the vast reduction in 

 their numbers, occasioned, I fear, princi- 

 pally, by the injudicious introduction of 



