fire from the few people then at tlie establishment through the whole
day, and returning their shots occasionally, they actually succeeded
in their enterprise.: One man was .Idllpd on ,eqch side. They,
usually strip defenceless persons, whom they, meet of, all their garments,
but particularly of those which have buttons, and lugve them
to travel home in that state, however severe the "Ciither. If jjresistance
be expected, they not unfrequontly murder before they attempt
to rob. The traders, when they travel, invariably keep, some men
on guard to prevent surprise, whilst the . other,s slee p a n d often
practise the stratagem of lighting a fire af sunset,, which they leave
burning, and move on after dark to a more distant, encampment—
yet these precautions do not always baffle the depredators.,, Such is
the description of men whom the traders of this river have,constantly
to guard against. It must require a long residence ampng them,
and much experience of their manners, to overcome the,apprehensions
their hostility and threats are calculated to excite. Through
fear of having their provision and supplies entirely cut off, the
traders are often obliged to overlook the grossest offence^, even
murder, though the delinquents present themselves with unblushing
effrontery almost immediately after the fact, and perhaps
boast of it. They do not, on detection, consider themselves under
any obligation to deliver up what they have stolen without receiving
an equivalent, ft ■ r* ,
The Stone Indians keep in amity with their neighbours the Crees
from motives of interest; and the two tribes, un.itp in determined
hostility againstthe nations dwelling to the .westward, which are
generally called Slave Indians-a term of reproach applied by the
Crees to those tribes against whom they waged, successful wars,. Tbq
Slave Indians are said greatly to resemble the Stone Indians, being
equally desperate and daring in their acts of aggression and dishonesty
towards the traders. i wi
These parties go to war almost every, summer, and. sometimes
muster three or four hundred horsemen on each side. Their leaders,
in approaching the foe* exercise all the caution of the most skilful
generals ; and whenever either party considers it has gained the best
ground, or finds if can surprise the other, the attack is made. They
advance at once td dose quarters, and the slaughter is consequently
great, though the battle may lie short . The prisoners of either sex
are seldom spared, but slain on the spot with wanton cruelty. The
dead are scalped, and he is considered the bravest person who bears
the greatest number of scalps from the field. These are afterwards
attached to his war dress, and worn as proofs of his prowess. The
victorious party, for a certain time, blacken their faces and every
part of their dress in token of joy, and in that state they often come
to the establishment, if near, to testify their delight by dancing and
singing,' bearing all the horrid insignia of war, to display their individual
feats. When in mourning, they completely cover their
dress and hair with white mud.
The Crees in the vicinity of Carlton House have the same cast of
•countenancè as those about'Cumberland, but are much superior to
them in appearance, living in a more abundant country. These
men are more docile, tractable, and industrious, than the Stone
Indians, and bring greater supplies of provision and furs to the
posts. Their general mode of dress resembles that of the Stone
Indians’;1 but sometimes they wear cloth leggins, blankets, and other
useful articles, when they can afford to purchase them. « They also
decorate their hair with buttons.
The Crees1 prohiire guns from the traders, and use'them in preference
to the bow ând arrow ; and from them theJ Stone Indians
often get Supplied,either by stealth, gaming, or traffic. Like the
rtest of their nation, these Crees are remarkably fond of spirits, and
would màke any sacrifice to obtain them. I regretted to find the
demand for this pernicious article had greatly increased within the
few last years. The following notice of these Indians is extracted
from 'Dr. Richardson’s journal :■ ‘
“Thé Asseennhome, termed by t'he Crees Asseeneepoytnck, or
P s