134 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



indulgent to their children. The father 

 never punishes them, and if the mother, 

 more hasty in her temper, sometimes be- 

 stows a blow or two on a troublesome child, 

 her heart is instantly softened by the roar 

 which follows, and she mingles her tears 

 with those that streak the smoky face of her 

 darling. It may be fairly said, then, that 

 restraint or punishment forms no part of the 

 education of an Indian child, nor are they 

 early trained to that command over their 

 temper which they exhibit in after years. 



The discourse of the parents is never 

 restrained by the presence of their children, 

 every transaction between the sexes being 

 openly talked of before them. 



The Crees having early obtained arms 

 from the European traders, were enabled to 

 make harassing inroads on the lands of 

 their neighbours, and are known to have 

 made war excursions as far to the westward 

 as the Rocky Mountains, and to the north- 

 ward as far as M'Kenzie's River ; but their 

 enemies being now as well armed as them- 

 selves, the case is much altered. 



