194 TRAVALS THROUGH LOWER CAN AT) A! 
being opened, the blankets, cloths, and cot- 
tons were cut up into small pieces, each suffix 
cient to make for one persona wrapper, a shirt, 
a pair of leggings, or whatever else it was in¬ 
tended for; and the portions of the different 
articles intended for each tribe were thrown 
together in a heap, at the bottom of the stake 
which bore its name. This business took up 
several hours, as there weremo less than four 
hundred and twenty Indians to be served. No 
liquor, nor any silver ornaments, except to 
favourite chiefs in private, are ever given on 
the part of government to the Indians, notwith¬ 
standing they are so fond of both ; and a trader 
who attempts to give these articles to them in 
exchange for the presents they have received 
from government, or, indeed, who takes from 
them, on any conditions, their presents, is liable 
to a very heavy penalty for every such act, by 
the laws of the province. 
The presents having Jbeen all prepared, the 
chiefs were ordered to assemble their w arriors, 
who were loitering about the grounds at the 
outside of the lawn. In a few minutes they 
all came, and.liaving been drawn up in a large 
circle, our friend delivered a speech on the 
occasion, without which ceremony no business, 
according to Indian custom, is ever transacted. 
In this they were told, That their great and 
good Father, who lived on the opposite side of 
