BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

LETTERS 89
hair and grease it so mnch that it appears stiff, then they strew
swan's down upon their heads and rub a little vermillion on
their hands and faces; thus modelled they believe themselves
agreable to the women and handsome to spectators.
Their economy consists in hoarding up as much provisions as Economy.
possible for the win ter and in obtaining a great quantity of orignal
snares. He who is the best hunter and \vho has the greatest
number of snares is the greatest and richest man. When an
Indian kills an animal, it is not his own, for he receives the
smallest share, it is separated among the others who send a
piece of their share, when cooked, to the hunter.
Their dif'positions are sociable, mild and harmless; they never Character.
make war with their neighbours and never quarrel with the
Whites; they are submissive and very obedient, perhaps through
ignorance. By what I can learn by hearsay and my own observation,
they are naturally timorous, great liars, lazy and extremely
curious; yet generally good natured, conrteollS to
strangers, peaceable among t.hemselves and easily contented.
As to forms of government, police and regulations, they have Government.
none. When war is declared upon them, they elect a chief from
among the old men; to him they submit for advice and com·
mandment; so soon as peace is obtained, this chief is no more
obeyed or attended to any further than to support him and his
family when old, and ask his opinions in time of trouble. These
chiefs ·hardly merit the title they enjoy. Na-han-au-Bettau or
Great Chief is the only one who is a little respeeted and obeyed;
he is a middling size corpulent fdlow, not wilhout a competent
share of common sense, at least enough to procure skins and
provisions without hunting for them.
These Indians subsist upon every speeies of animals, birds and Food.
fish, making no exceptioll from the elk down to the mouse; from
the swan to t.he smallest bird, the crow even is not excepted, and
all fish is deemed equally palatable. They have also the dirty
24