File:Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 (microform) (1823) (20440804858).jpg

Title: Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 (microform)
Identifier: cihm_35178 (find matches)
Year: 1823 (1820s)
Authors: Franklin, John, Sir, 1786-1847
Subjects: Scientific expeditions; Expéditions scientifiques
Publisher: London : J. Murray
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1; The traders, when they travel, invariably keep some men on guard to prevent surprise, whilst the others sleep ; and often practise the stratagem of lighting a fire at sunset, which they leave burning, and move on after dark to a more distant encampment—yet these pre- cautions do not always baffle the depredators. Such is the descrip- tion of men whom the traders of this river have constantly to guard against. It must require a long residence among them, and much experience of their manners, to overcome the painful 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 offences, even murder, though the delinquents present themselves with unblushing effrontery almost immediately after the fact, and perhaps boast of having committed it. They do not, on detection, consider themselves under any obligation to deliver up what they have stolen without receiving an equivalent. The Stone Indians keep in amity with their neighbours the Crees from motives of interest; and the two tribes unite in determined hostility against the 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 have waged successful wars. The 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. These parties go to war almost every summer, and sometimes mus- ter 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 that it has gained the best ground, or finds it can surprise the other, the attack is made. They advance at once to close quarters, and the slaughter is conse- qi'ently great, though the battle may be short. The prisoners of either sex are seldom spared, but slain on the spot with wanton

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