1812. 
NUAKKETSI TRADERS. 
489 
^Ist. During part of the forenoon, I was employed in my wag- 
gon in finishing my drawings ; but at no hour of the day was I 
allowed to be there alone. Several natives were always sitting on the 
chest before me, and watching every motion ; but I was mistaken in 
my first supposition that their curiosity might be the effect of a desire 
to learn the arts of white-men, and to improve their knowledge by 
conversing with strangers. It did not appear to have so useful an 
object : although I cannot but believe that the occasional visits of 
Europeans, must, at least insensibly and almost involuntarily, enlarge 
their notions and give them many new ideas which may ultimately 
raise the nation somewhat higher in the scale of intellect and civili- 
zation. The effects of such visits, have hitherto perhaps been 
fleeting ; as no strangers of this description had passed a sufficient 
length of time among them, to communicate much information, or 
to make any permanent impression on the minds of the people in 
general. 
A few days before we reached Litakun, a party of Nudkketsies 
had arrived there, with a present of oxen from their chief Mokkaba, 
as a testimony of his desire of being on peaceable terms with Mattlvi. 
They had also brought a large quantity of iron-ware of their own 
manufacture, consisting of knives, hassagays, and hatchets ; together 
with tobacco, copper and iron beads, copper bracelets, and ornaments 
for the ears ; which were exchanged here for porcelain beads, and 
sibilo. They still remained at this town, not having yet disposed of 
all their merchandise. Two of them came this morning into the 
public enclosure : they appeared of a blacker color than the Bachapins; 
which might possibly be merely the consequence of their not being 
painted with red ochre or sibilo. They had thicker lips and more 
flattened noses ; but I will not, from these few individuals, venture 
to assert that such are the national features : yet subsequent observ- 
ation seemed to authorise the supposition that, by travelling farther 
northward, the tribes would be found gradually to approach in 
features and color, nearer to the negroes of the equinoctial part of 
the continent. 
Serrakutu, whom I had not seen for the last two days, paid 
