A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



than to attempt to raise the Indians to theirs. Indeed, such a 

 lamentable want of morality has been displayed by the white traders 

 in their contests for the interests of their respective companies, that 

 it would require a long series of good conduct to efface from the 

 minds of the native population the ideas they have formed of the 

 white character. Notwithstanding the frequent violations of the 

 rights of property they have witnessed, and but too often expe- 

 rienced, in their own persons, these savages, as they are termed, 

 remain strictly honest. During their visits to a post, they are suf- 

 fered to enter every apartment in the house, without the least 

 restraint, and although articles of value to them are scattered about, 

 nothing is ever missed. They even scrupulously avoid moving any 

 thing from its place, although they are often prompted by curiosity 

 to examine it. In some cases, indeed, they carry this principle to a 

 degree of self-denial which would hardly be expected. It often hap- 

 pens that meat, which has been paid for, (if the poisonous draught 

 it procures them can be considered as payment,) is left at their lodges 

 until a convenient opportunity occurs of carrying it away. They 

 will rather pass several days without eating than touch the meat 

 thus intrusted to their charge, even when there exists a prospect of 

 replacing it. 



The hospitality of the Crees is unbounded. They afford a certain 

 asylum to the half-breed children when deserted by their unnatural 

 white fathers ; and the infirm, and indeed every individual in an 

 encampment, share the provisions of a successful hunter as long as 

 they last. Fond too as a Cree is of spirituous liquors, he is not 

 happy unless all his neighbours partake with him. It is not easy, 

 however, to say what share ostentation may have in the apparent 

 munificence in the latter article ; for when an Indian, by a good hunt, 

 is enabled to treat the others with a keg of rum, he becomes the 

 chief of a night, assumes no little stateliness of manner, and is 

 treated with deference by those who regale at his expense. Prompted 



