52 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



waistband they have a piece of cloth round 

 the middle which hangs down loosely before 

 and behind. Their hunting dress consists 

 of a leathern shirt and stockings, over which 

 a blanket is thrown, the head being covered 

 with a fur cap or band. Their manner is 

 reserved, and their habits are selfish ; they 

 beg with unceasing importunity for every 

 thing they see. I never saw men who 

 either received or bestowed a gift with such 

 bad grace ; they almost snatch the thing 

 from you in the one instance, and throw it 

 at you in the other. It could not be 

 expected that such men should display in 

 their tents the amiable hospitality which 

 prevails generally amongst the Indians of 

 this country. A stranger may go away 

 hungry from their lodges, unless he possess 

 sufficient impudence to thrust, uninvited, 

 his knife into the kettle, and help himself. 

 The owner, indeed, never deigns to take 

 any notice of such an act of rudeness, 

 except by a frown, it being beneath the 

 dignity of a hunter to make disturbance 

 about a piece of meat. 



