intercourse with civilized nations. That this is not so much the
case as it ought to be, is not entirely their own fault. They are
capable of being, and I believe willing to be, taught; but no pains
have hitherto been taken to inform their minds *, and their white
acquaintances seem in general to find it easier to descend to the
Indian customs, and modes of thinking, particularly with respect
to women, than to attempt to raise the Indians to theirs. Indeed
such a lamentable want of morality has been displayed by the white
traders in their contests for the interests of their respective companies,
that it would require a long series of good conduct to efface
from the minds of the native population the ideas they have formed
of the white character. Notwithstanding the frequent violations of
the rights of property they have witnessed, and but too often experienced,
in their own persons, these savages, as they are termed,
remain strictly honest. During their visits to a post, they are suffered
to enter every apartment in the house, without the least restraint,
and although articles of value to them are scattered about,
nothing is ever missed. They scrupulously avoid moving any thing
from its place, although they are often prompted by curiosity to
examine it. In some cases, indeed, they carry this principle to a
degree of self-denial which would hardly be expected It often
happens that meat, which has been paid for, (if the poisonous draught
it procures them can be considered as payment,) is left at their
lodges until a convenient opportunity occurs of carrying it away.
They will rather pass several days without eating than touch the
meat thus intrusted to their charge, even when there exists a prospect
of replacing it.
The hospitality of the Crees is unbounded. They afford a certain
* Since these remarks were written the union of the rival companies has enabled the
gentlemen, who have now the management of the fur trade, to take some decided steps
for the religious instruction and improvement of the natives and half-breed Indians,
which have been more particularly referred to in the introduction.
asylum to the half-breed children when deserted by their unnatural
white fathers; and the infirm, and indeed every individual in an
encampment, share the provisions of a successful hunter as long as
they last. Fond too as a Cree is of spirituous liquors, he is not
happy unless all his neighbours partake with him. It is not easy,
however, to say what share ostentation may have in the apparent
munificence in the latter article; for when an Indian, by a good hunt,
is enabled to treat the others with a keg of rum, he becomes the
chief of a night, assumes no little stateliness of manner, and is treated
with deference by those who regale at his expense. Prompted also by
the desire of gaining a name, they lavish away the articles they purchase
at the trading posts, and are well satisfied if repaid in praise.
Gaming is not uncommon amongst the Crees of all the different
districts, but it is pursued to greater lengths by those bands who frequent
the plains, and who, from the ease with which they obtain
food, have abundant leisure. The game most in use amongst them,
termed puckesann, is played with the stones of a species of prunus,
which, from this circumstance, they term puekesanrir-meena. The difficulty
lies in guessing the number of stones which are tossed out of a
small wooden dish, and the hunters will spend whole nights at the destructive
sport, staking their most valuable articles, powder and shot.
It has been remarked by some writers that the aboriginal inhabitants
of America are deficient in passion for the fair sex. This is by
no means the case with the Crees ; on the contrary, their practice of
seducing each other’s wives, proves the most fertile source of their
quarrels. When the guilty pair are detected, the woman generally
receives a severe beating, but the husband is, for the most part,
afraid to reproach the male culprit until they get drunk together at
the fort; then the remembrance of the offence is revived, a struggle
ensues, and the affair is terminated by the loss of a few handsful
of hair. Some husbands, however, feel more deeply the injury done
to their honour, and seek revenge even in their sober moments. In