OF THE POLAR SEA. 



69 



her temper, sometimes bestows 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. This is done from principle, that a child may 

 not grow up ignorant of what they consider as necessary to be 

 known ; accordingly a boy is, from his infancy, acquainted with all 

 the mysteries of the sex, and the mother takes care that the girls 

 shall not fall short of their brothers in their education. 



The Crees having early obtained arms from the European traders, 

 were enabled to make harassing inroads on the lands of their neigh- 

 bours, and are known to have made war excursions as far to the 

 westward as the Rocky Mountains, and to the northward as far as 

 M'Kenzie's River; but their enemies being now as well armed as 

 themselves, the case is much altered. 



They shew great fortitude in the endurance of hunger, and the 

 other evils incident to a hunter's life ; but any unusual accident dis- 

 pirits them at once, and they seldom venture to meet their enemies 

 in open warfare, or to attack them even by surprise, unless with the 

 advantage of superiority of numbers. Perhaps they are much dete- 

 riorated in this respect by their intercourse with Europeans. Their 

 existence at present hangs upon the supplies of ammunition and 

 clothing they receive from the traders, and they deeply feel their 

 dependant situation. But their character has been still more debased 

 by the passion for spirituous liquors, so assiduously fostered among 

 them. To obtain the noxious beverage, they descend to the most 

 humiliating entreaties, and assume an abjectness of behaviour which 



