OF THE POLAR SEA. 



161 



but when through accident their stock fails, 

 they have recourse to the soft down of the 

 typha, or reed mace, the dust of rotten 

 wood, or even feathers, although none of 

 these articles are so cleanly, or so easily 

 changed as the sphagnum. 



The above is a brief sketch of such parts 

 of the manners, character and customs of 

 the Crees, as we could collect from personal 

 observation, or from the information of the 

 most intelligent half-breeds we met with ; 

 and we shall merely add a few remarks on 

 the manner in which the trade is conducted 

 at the different inland posts of the Fur 

 Companies. 



The standard of exchange in all mercan- 

 tile transactions with the natives is a beaver 

 skin, the relative value of which, as origin- 

 ally established by the traders, differs con- 

 siderably from the present worth of the 

 articles it represents; but the Indians are 

 averse to change. Three marten, eight 

 musk-rat, or a single lynx, or wolverene 

 skin, are equivalent to one beaver ; a silver 

 fox, white fox, or otter, are reckoned two 



VOL. I. M 



