OF THE POLAR SEA. 



107 



cruelty. The dead are scalped, and he is considered the bravest 

 person who bears the greatest number of scalps from the field. 

 These are afterwards attached to his war dress, and worn as proofs 

 of his prowess. The victorious party, during a certain time, blacken 

 their faces and every part of their dress in token of joy, and in 

 that state they often come to the establishment, if near, to testify 

 their delight by dancing and singing, bearing all the horrid insignia 

 of war, to display their individual feats. When in mourning they 

 completely cover their dress and hair with white mud. 



The Crees in the vicinity of Carlton House have the same cast of 

 countenance as those about Cumberland, but are much superior to 

 them in appearance, which is to be attributed to their living in a 

 more abundant country. These men are more docile, tractable, and 

 industrious, than the Stone Indians, and bring greater supplies of 

 provision and furs to the posts. Their general mode of dress re- 

 sembles that of the Stone Indians ; but sometimes they wear cloth 

 leggins, blankets, and other useful articles, when they can afford to 

 purchase them. They decorate their hair with buttons, like the 

 others. 



The Crees procure guns from the traders, and use them in pre- 

 ference to the bow and arrow; and from them the Stone Indians 

 often get supplied, either by stealth, gaming, or traffic. Like the 

 rest of their nation, these Crees are remarkably fond of spirits, and 

 would make any sacrifice to obtain them. I regretted to find the 

 demand for this pernicious article had greatly increased in this de- 

 partment within the few last years. The following notice of these 

 Indians is extracted from Dr. Eichardson's Journal : — 



" The Asseenaboine, termed by the Crees Asseeneepoytuck, or 

 Stone Indians, are a tribe of Sioux, who speak a dialect of the Iro- 

 quois, one of the great divisions under which the American philolo- 

 gists have classed the known dialects of the Aborigines of North 

 America. The Stone Indians, or, as they name themselves, Eascab, 



p 2 



