time they tamely fubmit to the Knifteneaux, who are nbt fo numerous
as themfdveS/When they trearthenr as enemies’.1’^*
They do not affeft that cold referve at meeting, either amon g. th'em-
fclves or ftrarigers, which is common with thé Knifteneaux’; but communicate
mutually! and at once, all the inform ktion of which they are
poffeffed. Nor are they roufed ■ like them from: an |apparent torpor to
a ftate of great ■ aSivity. They are -oonfequehtly more uniform in this
refped, though they are of a •‘very perfevering difpofition when their
intëreft is concerned.
As thefe people are not addi&ed to fpirituöusliquors,' they have a
regular and uninterrupted ufe of their underftanding, which 'is always
dirêéled to the advancement of their own intereft; -and this difpofttion,
as may be readily imagined, fometimes occ^ions'them to be charged
with fraudulent habits. They will lubmit with patience to the fevereft
treatment, when they are confcious that they defervé it,' but will3-,never
forget or forgive any wanton or unneceffary rigour. •• A moderate
conduét I iiever found to fail, nor do I hefttate to, repiefènt- themj
altogether, as the moll peaceable tribe of Indians known in North
America. ,
There are conjurers>and high-jpriefts,. but I was nptprefent at any o f
their ceremonies;; though they certainly operate in an extraordinary
manner;, on j the imaginations of the people in the cure of diforders.
Their principal maladies are, rheumatic pains, the flux and confumption.
The-yenereal complaint is very common; but though its progrefsi is
flow,
fl0Wj it gradually undermines the eonftitution, and brings on premature
decays f.They- Haverecourfe.to fugerftition for their cure, and charms
are their only remedies, except* .the bark of the willow, which being
burned and reduced tp^powder, is flawed upon green wounds and'ulcers,
and places contrived rfo'r promoting perfpiratiom' Of’the ufe? o f fimples
and plants t h e y h a v e no knoiyledgie; nor| can it be expefted, as their
country-doeamot produae\*thfem.
T h o u g h they have enjoyed fo long ,am >.fercpujfe with Europeans,
their country is fo barren,., a*not: to.'bcoapable of producing:the ordi-
nary ^neceffaries-naturally -introduced by fuch a communicationand
they continue, in a’, great meafure,*their own inconvenient and awkward
piodeS. of taking their game and preparing it when taken. Sometimes
tbey^rivethe-dfeer jntor.thefinal! lakes,ywhere.theyfpear them, pr^fcfcce
them into inclofures, where . the bo.w and arrow M el .employed againft
them, dThefe, animals are alfo taken, in (pares: made ofalkm. .#In .the
former inftance the game is divided among thofe who have been engaged
in the* purfuit of. it. In the latter it 3 qonfidesed as, private property;
neverthekfpany unfucqefsful huntp;,paffing. by,; may, t?ke a t e ; fo ^
caught, leavingithe head, fldnha.nd faddlq for t^e pwner.^-Thus, though
• they have no regular .government, as^ every man is lord in his. own
f am i ly , «they are influenced, more or lefs, by certain principles which
conduce to their general benefit! ■
In their quarrels with each other;- they very rarely proceed to a greater
degree?uf violence than is occafioned by blows, wrefthng, a n d pulling o f
|L H w ; g « £ 9