421 



precautions neceffary : being himfelf familiar 

 with thefe natives of the woods, he left us to 

 our own difcretion, and affured us a civil, if not 

 a polite reception. On our arrival he at once 

 led us into the fimple ftru&ures, ufed for 

 houfes. No ceremony was obferved : neither 

 rapping at the door, nor ringing at the bell 

 was required. " Parlez au Suiffe" offered no 

 impediment nor delay. Vandyke advanced, 

 and the party was at once amidft the family. 

 You will believe that our curiofity was adtive. 

 Not a houfe, a hut, nor a hammock efcaped us. 

 The multiplied vifion of all-prying Argus could 

 not have accomplifhed more. Not an article 

 of furniture, not an implement, nor utenfil ; 

 not a ftep of ground ; nor a movement, nor 

 look of any inhabitant was difregarded. We 

 hunted through every corner and place, taking 

 up fome things in our hands, eying others, and 

 affailing Vandyke with queftions concerning 

 all. The Bucks were gone into the forell to 

 cut wood, the Buckeen and their children 

 being left at home. Mod of the women were 

 occupied in one ftep or other of theprocefs of 

 preparing thepoifonous caffadainto food. We 

 were anxious to fee them in their different 

 employments, and, therefore, haftened from 



