122 
l 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. our little encampment. This they left us in quiet poffef- 
^Peoruary^ fion of; but they came and took away the mins of fome 
old huts that were there, as materials for their new erec¬ 
tions. 
It is curious to obferve with what facility they build thefe 
occafional places of abode. I have feen above twenty of 
them ere6ted on a fpot of ground, that, not an hour before, 
was covered with Ihrubs and plants. They generally bring 
fome part of the materials with them; the reft they find 
upon the premifes. I was prefent when a number of people 
landed, and built one of thefe villages. The moment the 
canoes reached the fhore, the men leaped out, and at once 
took poffeflion of a piece of ground, by tearing up the plants 
and fhrubs, or {ticking up fome part of the framing of a 
hut. They then returned to their canoes, and fecured their 
weapons, by fetting them up againft a tree, or placing them 
in fuch a pofition, that they could be laid hold of in an in- 
ft ant. I took particular notice that no one neglected this 
precaution. While the men were employed in railing the 
huts, the women were not idle. Some were ftationed to 
take care of the canoes ; others to fecure the provifions, 
and the few utenfils in their poffeflion ; and the reft went 
to gather dry fticks, that a fire might be prepared for dref- 
fing their victuals. As to the children, I kept them, as 
alfo fome of the more aged, fufficiently occupied in fcramb- 
ling for beads, till I had emptied my pockets, and then I 
left them. 
Thefe temporary habitations are abundantly fufficient to 
afford fhelter from the wind and rain, which is the only 
purpofe they are meant to anfwer. I obferved that, gene¬ 
rally, if not always, the fame tribe or family, though it 
were ever fo large, affociated and built together; fo that 
we 
