254 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



the spirits for his wife's cure, but comes daily to Dr. Richardson for 

 medicine. 



Upon one occasion he received the medicine from the Doctor 

 with such formality, and wrapped it up in his rein-deer robe with 

 such extraordinary carefulness, that it excited the involuntary laugh- 

 ter of Mr. Hood and myself. The old man smiled in his turn, and 

 as he always seemed proud of the familiar way in which we were 

 accustomed to joke with him, we thought no more upon the subject. 

 But he unfortunately mentioned the circumstance to his wife, who 

 imagined in consequence, that the drug was not productive of its 

 usual good effects, and they immediately came to the conclusion 

 that some bad medicine had been intentionally given to them. The 

 distress produced by this idea, was in proportion to their former 

 faith in the potency of the remedy, and the night was spent in 

 singing and groaning. Next morning the whole family were crying 

 in concert, and it was not until the evening of the second day that 

 we succeeded in pacifying them. The old woman began to feel 

 better, and her faith in the medicine was renewed. 



While speaking of this family, I may remark that the daughter, 

 whom we designated Green-stockings from her dress, is considered 

 by her tribe to be a great beauty. Mr. Hood drew an accurate 

 portrait of her, although her mother was averse to her sitting for it» 

 She was afraid, she said, that her daughter's likeness would induce 

 the great Chief who resided in England to send for the original. 

 The young lady, however, was undeterred by any such fear. She 

 has already been an object of contest between her countrymen, and 

 although under sixteen years of age, has belonged successively to 

 two husbands, and would probably have been the wife of many 

 more, if her mother had not required her services as a nurse. 



The weather during this month, was the coldest we experienced 

 during our residence in America. The thermometer sunk on one 

 occasion to 57° below zero, and never rose beyond 6° above it; the 



