British America on the Atlantic, with; the lexcepfioh of the Efquiv{
maux*, and continues along the Coaft of. Labrador, and thegulph and
banks of St. Laurence to Montreal. The line then follows, 'the TJta was.
river t o ; its fource; and continues from thence nearly-Weft along thé »
high lands which divide thé waters that fall: into Lake. Superior and
Hudfon’s Bay; It then -proceeds tilh it’ Ibr^srthe-i#<h|lgcfarfe e f; '# *
river Winipic, following that water through the . Lake Winipic, to the
difcharge of thé Salkatchiwirie into ?it; from 'thence it accompanies,
the latter to Fort George, when the line; iftriking by the head pfi
the Beaver River to the Elk River, runs along its banks -to its discharge
in the Lake o f the iH ilsf drom whichljat may he carried:
back Eaft, to the I lk a la Groffe, and-fo on to> ghurchilLby;ftha
Miffinipi, The whole o f the -baft- between this line' and Hudfon's»
Bay and Straits, (except that of the Efquimaux in the latter), may:
fee faid to be excluhvely the country of ;the Kpifteneanx; Some
them, indeed; have penetrated further Weft and South to. the Red?
River, to the South of Lake Winipic, and the South branch of the,
Salkatchiwine..
They are o f a moderate ftature, well proportioned; and* o f great
activity. Examples of defbrimity are feldbm to be feen among thenu
Their complexion is. of a copper colour, and their hair black, which
is common to all the natives of North America. It ist cut in various
forms, according to the fancy of the feveral tribes,, arid by fome is.
* The fimilarity between them language, and that of the ' Algonquins; is an unequivocal proof
that they are the fame people. Specimens of their. refpefUve tongues yrill he hereafter given.. ,
Mfc
left in the long, lank,: flow of nature. They very generally extraft
their beards,.and both lexes roanifeft a difpofition to pluck the hair from
every part of the body and limbs.p Their eyes-are,black, keen, and
penetrating; their countenance open and’ agreeable, and it is, a principal
object bf their- vanity to. give-every poffible decoration to their perfons*
A fhatetial? a ric l# # their!# Ä e s ! : is? vermilion, ; which- they conträft
with their native- blue, white, and brown' earths,: to which charcoal is
frequently added;.. r
:- Their drefsis atiembe: iirnple and commodious; It eönfifts o f tight
leggins, Teaching near the hip-t a ftrip o f cloth or leather;, called
Lilian, about a foot wide, and five feet long, whofe ends are drawn
inwards ändilhähg; behind and before, over a belt- tied round the-
waill .for that purpbfe t a .clofe- veft or fttirt reaching down to the
former garment,1 'änd.cinblured with a broad ftrip of parchment fattened
with thongs behind;;- and a cap • for the head, confuting of a piece of
fuar, or {mall fki»; with rthe; brulh • of the: animal as a fiifpended orna*
ment:: a kind o f; robe is thrownOccafionally over thfe whole of the
drefs, and: ferv.es both night and day, Thefo article,-with , the addition
of (hoes and mittens, conftitute; the .variety of their, apparel.
The materials vary acqbrdihg to the5 feafon', and confift of dreffed
moofe-fkan, beaver 1 prepared with- the for, Or European woollens.
The leather is neatly’ painted, and fancifully worked in fome parts with
porcupine quills, . and mdofe<deer IhairJ: theihirts. and' leggkfs are alfo
adorned with fringe and taflels; nor are. the (hoes and mittens^without
Ifomeilhdt. f o f appropriate? decoration,, and worked: with a <on-
■ fiderable degree o f fkill and tafte. Thefe habiliments are put on, however,;