could possibly be expected from an Indian. Accordingly Mr. Jacobs, then
Governor at Prince of Wales's Fort, engaged him, when but a youth, as an
Ambassador and Mediator between the Northern Indians and the Athapuscow
Tribe, who till then had always been at war with each other. In the
course of this embassy Matonabbee not only discovered the most brilliant
and solid parts, but shewed an extensive knowledge of every advantage
that could arise to both nations from a total suppression of
hostilities; and at times he displayed such instances of personal
courage and magnanimity, as are rarely to be found among persons of
superior condition and rank.
{353} He had not penetrated far into the country of the Athapuscow
Indians, before he came to several tents with inhabitants; and there, to
his great surprise, he found Captain Keelshies, (a person frequently
mentioned in this Journal,[BX]) who was then a prisoner, with all his
family and some of his friends, the fate of whom was then undetermined;
but through the means of Matonabbee, though young enough to have been
his son, Keelshies and a few others were released, with the loss of his
effects and all his wives, which were six in number. Matonabbee not only
kept his ground after Keelshies and his small party had been permitted
to return, but made his way into the very heart of the Athapuscow
country, in order to have a personal conference with all or most of the
principal inhabitants. The farther he advanced, the more occasion he had
for intrepidity. At one time he came to five tents of those savages,
which in the whole contained sixteen men, besides their wives, children,
and servants, while he himself was entirely alone, except one wife and a
servant boy. The Southern Indians, ever treacherous, and apparently the
more kind when they are premeditating mischief, seemed to give him a
hearty welcome, accepted the tenders of peace and reconciliation with
apparent satisfaction, and, as a mark of their approbation, each tent in
rotation made a feast, or entertainment, the {354} same night, and
invited him to partake; at the last of which they had concerted a scheme
to murder him. He was, however, so perfect a master of the Southern
Indian language, that he soon discovered their design, and told them, he
was not come in a hostile manner, but if they attempted any thing of the
kind he was determined to sell his life as dear as possible. On hearing
this, some of them ordered that his servant, gun, and snow-shoes, (for
it was winter,) should be brought into the tent and secured; but he
sprung from his seat, seized his gun and snow-shoes, and went out of the
tent, telling them, if they had an intention to molest him, that was the
proper place where he could see his enemy, and be under no apprehensions
of being shot cowardly through the back. "I am sure (said he) of killing
two or three of you, and if you chuse to purchase my life at that price,
now is the time; but if otherwise, let me depart without any farther
molestation." They then told him he was at liberty to go, on condition
of leaving his servant; but to this he would not consent. He then rushed
into the tent and took his servant by force from two men; when finding
there was no appearance of farther danger, he set out on his return to
the frontiers of his own country, and from thence to the Factory.
The year following he again visited the Athapuscow country, accompanied
by a considerable number of chosen {355} men of his own nation, who were
so far superior to such small parties of the Southern Indians as they
had met, that they commanded respect wherever they came; and having
traversed the whole country, and conversed with all the principal men,
peace and friendship were apparently re-established. Accordingly, when
the Spring advanced the Northern Indians began to disperse, and draw out
to the Eastward on the barren ground; but Matonabbee, and a few others,
chose to pass the Summer in the Athapuscow country. As soon as the
Southern Indians were acquainted with this design, and found the number
of the Northern Indians so reduced, a superior number of them dogged and
harassed them the whole Summer, with a view to surprise and kill them
when asleep; and with that view twice actually approached so near their
tents as fifty yards. But Matonabbee told them, as he had done when
alone, that though there were but few of them, they were all determined
to sell their lives as dear as possible: on which the Southern Indians,
without making any reply, retired; for no Indians in this country have
the courage to face their enemies when they find them apprized of their
approach, and on their guard to receive them.
Notwithstanding all these discouragements and great dangers, Matonabbee
persevered with courage and resolution to visit the Athapuscow Indians
for several years successively; and at length, by an uniform display of
his pacific disposition, and by rendering a long train of good {356}
offices to those Indians, in return for their treachery and perfidy, he
was so happy as to be the sole instrument of not only bringing about a
lasting peace, but also of establishing a trade and reciprocal interest
between the two nations.
After having performed this great work, he was prevailed upon to visit
the Copper-mine River, in company with a famous leader, called
I-dat-le-aza; and it was from the report of those two men, that a
journey to that part was proposed to the Hudson's Bay Company by the
late Mr. Moses Norton, in one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine. In
one thousand seven hundred and seventy he was engaged as the principal
guide on that expedition; which he performed with greater punctuality,
and more to my satisfaction, than perhaps any other Indian in all that
country would have done. At his return to the Fort in one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-two, he was made head of all the Northern Indian
nation; and continued to render great services to the Company during his
life, by bringing a greater quantity of furrs to their Factory at
Churchill River, than any other Indian ever did, or ever will do. His
last visit to Prince of Wales's Fort was in the Spring of one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-two, and he intended to have repeated it in the
Winter following; but when he heard that the French had destroyed the
Fort, and carried off all the Company's servants, he never afterwards
reared his head, but took an opportunity, when no one {357} suspected
his intention, to hang himself. This is the more to be wondered at, as
he is the only Northern Indian who, that I ever heard, put an end to his
own existence. The death of this man was a great loss to the Hudson's
Bay Company, and was attended with a most melancholy scene; no less than
the death of six of his wives, and four children, all of whom were
starved to death the same Winter, in one thousand seven hundred and
eighty-three.
FOOTNOTES:
[BO] I have seen several of the Southern Indian men who were near six
feet high, preserve a single lock of their hair, that, when let down,
would trail on the ground as they walked. This, however, is but seldom
seen; and some have suspected it to be false: but I have examined the
hair of several of them, and found it to be real.
[BP] The Indian method of preparing this unaccountable dish is by
throwing the filthy bag across a pole directly over the fire, the smoke
of which, they say, much improves it, by taking off the original
flavour; and when any of it is to be cooked, a large flake, like as much
tripe, is cut off and boiled for a few minutes; but the many large nodes
with which the inside of the womb is studded, make it abominable. These
nodes are as incapable of being divested of moisture as the skin of a
live eel; but when boiled, much resemble, both in shape and colour, the
yolk of an egg, and are so called by the natives, and as eagerly
devoured by them.
The tripe of the buffalo is exceedingly good, and the Indian method of
cooking it infinitely superior to that practised in Europe. When
opportunity will permit, they wash it tolerably clean in cold water,
strip off all the honey-comb, and only boil it about half, or
three-quarters of an hour: in that time it is sufficiently done for
eating; and though rather tougher than what is prepared in England, yet
is exceedingly pleasant to the taste, and must be much more nourishing
than tripe that has been soaked and scrubbed in many hot waters, and
then boiled for ten or twelve hours.
The lesser stomach, or, as some call it, the many-folds, either of
buffalo, moose, or deer, are usually eat raw, and are very good; but
that of the moose, unless great care be taken in washing it, is rather
bitter, owing to the nature of their food.
The kidneys of both moose and buffalo are usually eat raw by the
Southern Indians; for no sooner is one of those beasts killed, than the
hunter rips up its belly, thrusts in his arm, snatches out the kidneys,
and eats them warm, before the animal is quite dead. They also at times
put their mouths to the wound the ball has made, and suck the blood;
which they say quenches thirst, and is very nourishing.
[122] _Larix laricina_ (Du Roi.).
[123] For fuller reference to these birds see pp. 396-405.
[BQ] They frequently sell new nets, which have not been wet more than
once or twice, because they have not been successful. Those nets, when
soaked in water, are easily opened, and then make most excellent heel
and toe netting for snow-shoes. In general it is far superior to the
netting cut by the Southern Indian women, and is not larger than common
net-twine.
[BR] In the Summer of 1756, a party of Northern Indians lay in wait at
Knapp's Bay till the sloop had sailed out of the harbour, when they fell
on the poor Esquimaux, and killed every soul. Mr. John Bean, then Master
of the sloop, and since Master of the Trinity yacht, with all his crew,
heard the guns very plain; but did not know the meaning or reason of it
till the Summer following, when he found the shocking remains of more
than forty Esquimaux, who had been murdered in that cowardly manner; and
for no other reason but because two principal Northern Indians had died
in the preceding Winter.
No Esquimaux were seen at Knapp's Bay for several years after; and those
who trade there at present have undoubtedly been drawn from the
Northward, since the above unhappy transaction; for the convenience of
being nearer the woods, as well as being in the way of trading with the
sloop that calls there annually. It is to be hoped that the measures
taken by the Governors at Prince of Wales's Fort of late years, will
effectually prevent any such calamities happening in future, and by
degrees be the means of bringing about a lasting, friendly, and
reciprocal interest between the two nations.
Notwithstanding the pacific and friendly terms which begin to dawn
between those two tribes at Knapp's Bay, Navel's Bay, and Whale Cove,
farther North hostilities continue, and most barbarous murders are
perpetrated: and the only protection the Esquimaux have from the fury of
their enemies, is their remote situation in the Winter, and their
residing chiefly on islands and peninsulas in Summer, which renders them
less liable to be surprised during that Season. But even this secluded
life does not prevent the Northern Indians from harassing them greatly,
and at times they are so closely pursued as to be obliged to leave most
of their goods and utensils to be destroyed by their enemy; which must
be a great loss, as these cannot be replaced but at the expence of much
time and labour; and the want of them in the meantime must create much
distress both to themselves and their families, as they can seldom
procure any part of their livelihood without the assistance of a
considerable apparatus.
In 1756, the Esquimaux at Knapp's Bay sent two of their youths to Prince
of Wales's Fort in the sloop, and the Summer following they were carried
back to their friends, loaded with presents, and much pleased with the
treatment they received while at the Fort. In 1767, they again sent one
from Knapp's Bay and one from Whale Cove; and though during their stay
at the Fort they made a considerable progress both in the Southern
Indian and the English languages, yet those intercourses have not been
any ways advantageous to the Company, by increasing the trade from that
quarter. In fact, the only satisfaction they have found for the great
expence they have from time to time incurred, by introducing those
strangers, is, that through the good conduct of their upper servants at
Churchill River, they have at length so far humanized the hearts of
those two tribes, that at present they can meet each other in a friendly
manner; whereas, a few years since, whenever they met, each party
premeditated the destruction of the other; and what made their war more
shocking was, they never gave quarter: so that the strongest party
always killed the weakest, without sparing either man, woman, or child.
It is but a few years ago that the sloop's crew who annually carried
them all their wants, durst not venture on shore among the Esquimaux
unarmed, for fear of being murdered; but latterly they are so civilized,
that the Company's servants visit their tents with the greatest freedom
and safety, are always welcome, and desired to partake of such
provisions as they have: and knowing now our aversion from train-oil,
they take every means in their power to convince our people that the
victuals prepared for them is entirely free from it. But the smell of
their tents, cooking-utensils, and other furniture, is scarcely less
offensive than Greenland Dock. However, I have eaten both fish and
venison cooked by them in so cleanly a manner, that I have relished them
very much, and partaken of them with a good appetite.
[BS] Their ideas in this respect are founded on a principle one would
not imagine. Experience has shewn them, that when a hairy deer-skin is
briskly stroked with the hand in a dark night, it will emit many sparks
of electrical fire, as the back of a cat will. The idea which the
Southern Indians have of this meteor is equally romantic, though more
pleasing, as they believe it to be the spirits of their departed friends
dancing in the clouds; and when the _Aurora Borealis_ is remarkably
bright, at which time they vary most in colour, form, and situation,
they say, their deceased friends are very merry.
[BT] Afterwards Governor.
[BU] Master of the Churchill sloop.
[BV] I must here observe, that when we went to war with the Esquimaux at
the Copper River in July 1771, it was by no means his proposal: on the
contrary, he was forced into it by his countrymen. For I have heard him
say, that when he first visited that river, in company with
I-dot-le-aza, they met with several Esquimaux; and so far from killing
them, were very friendly to them, and made them small presents of such
articles as they could best spare, and that would be of most use to
them. It is more than probable that the two bits of iron found among the
plunder while I was there, were part of those presents. There were also
a few long beads found among those people, but quite different from any
that the Hudson's Bay Company had ever sent to the Bay; so that the only
probable way they could have come by them, must have been by an
intercourse with some of their tribe, who had dealings with the Danes in
Davis's Straits. It is very probable, however, they might have passed
through many hands before they reached this remote place. Had they had
an immediate intercourse with the Esquimaux in Davis's Straits, it is
natural to suppose that iron would not have been so scarce among them as
it seemed to be; indeed the distance is too great to admit of it.
[BW] I have seen two Northern Indians who measured six feet three
inches; and one, six feet four inches.
[BX] The same person was at Prince of Wales's Fort when the French
arrived on the 8th of August 1782, and saw them demolish the Fort.
{358} CHAP. X.[124]
_An Account of the principal Quadrupeds found in the Northern
Parts of Hudson's Bay.--The Buffalo, Moose, Musk-ox, Deer, and
Beaver--A capital Mistake cleared up respecting the
We-was-kish._
_Animals with Canine Teeth.--The Wolf--Foxes of various
colours--Lynx, or Wild Cat--Polar, or White Bear--Black
Bear--Brown Bear--Wolverene--Otter--Jackash--Wejack--Skunk--Pine
Martin--Ermine, or Stote._
_Animals with cutting Teeth.--The Musk
Beaver--Porcupine--Varying Hare--American Hare--Common
Squirrel--Ground Squirrel--Mice of various Kinds,--and the
Castor Beaver._
_The Pinnated Quadrupeds with finlike Feet, found in Hudson's
Bay, are but three in number,_ viz. _the Walrus, or
Sea-Horse,--Seal,--and Sea-Unicorn._
* * * * *
_The Species of Fish found in the Salt Water of Hudson's Bay are
also few in number; being the Black Whale--White
Whale--Salmon--and Kepling._
_Shell-fish, and empty Shells of several kinds, found on the Sea
Coast near Churchill River._
* * * * *
_Frogs of various sizes and colours; also a great variety of
Grubbs, and other Insects, always found in a frozen state during
Winter, but when exposed to the heat of a slow fire, are soon
re-animated._
_An Account of some of the principal Birds found in the Northern
Parts of Hudson's Bay; as well those that only migrate there in
Summer, as those that are known to brave the coldest
Winters:--Eagles of various_ {359} _kinds--Hawks of various
sizes and plumage--White or Snowy Owl--Grey or mottled
Owl--Cob-a-dee-cooch--Raven--Cinerious Crow--Wood Pecker--Ruffed
Grouse--Pheasant--Wood Partridge--Willow Partridge--Rock
Partridge--Pigeon--Red-breasted Thrush--Grosbeak--Snow
Bunting--White-crowned Bunting--Lapland Finch, two
sorts--Lark--Titmouse--Swallow--Martin--Hopping Crane--Brown
Crane--Bitron--Carlow, two sorts--Jack Snipe--Red
Godwart--Plover--Black Gullemet--Northern Diver--Black-throated
Diver--Red-throated Diver--White Gull--Grey
Gull--Black-head--Pellican--Goosander--Swans of two
species--Common Grey Goose--Canada Goose--White or Snow
Goose--Blue Goose--Horned Wavy--Laughing Goose--Barren
Goose--Brent Goose--Dunter Goose--Bean Goose._
_The Species of Water-Fowl usually called Duck, that resort to
those Parts annually, are in great variety; but those that are
most esteemed are, the Mallard Duck,--Long-tailed Duck,--Wigeon,
and Teal._
* * * * *
_Of the Vegetable Productions as far North as Churchill River,
particularly the most useful; such as the Berry-bearing Bushes,
&c.--Gooseberry--Cranberry--Heathberry--Dewater-berry--Black
Currans--Juniper-berry--Partridge-berry--Strawberry--Eye-berry--
Blue-Berry--and a small species of Hips._
_Burridge--Coltsfoot--Sorrel--Dandelion._
_Wish-a-capucca--Jackashey-puck--Moss of various sorts--Grass of
several kinds--and Vetches._
_The Trees found so far North near the Sea, consist only of
Pines--Juniper--Small Poplar--Bush-willows--and Creeping Birch._
Before I conclude this work, it may not be improper to give a short
account of the principal Animals that frequent the high Northern
latitudes, though most of them are found also far to the Southward, and
consequently {360} in much milder climates. The buffalo, musk-ox, deer,
and the moose,[125] have been already described in this Journal. I shall
therefore only make a few remarks on the latter, in order to rectify a
mistake, which, from wrong information, has crept into Mr. Pennant's
Arctic Zoology. In page 21 of that elegant work, he classes the Moose
with the We-was-kish, though it certainly has not any affinity to it.
The We-was-kish,[126] or as some (though improperly) call it, the
Waskesse, is quite a different animal from the moose, being by no means
so large in size. The horns of the We-was-kish are something similar to
those of the common deer, but are not palmated in any part. They stand
more upright, have fewer branches, and want the brow-antler. The head of
this animal is so far from being like that of the Moose, that the nose
is sharp, like the nose of a sheep: indeed, the whole external
appearance of the head is not very unlike that of an ass. The hair is
usually of a sandy red; and they are frequently called by the English
who visit the interior parts of the country, red deer. Their flesh is
tolerable eating; but the fat is as hard as tallow, and if eaten as hot
as possible, will yet chill in so short a time, that it clogs the teeth,
and sticks to the roof of the mouth, in such a manner as to render it
very disagreeable. In the Spring of one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five, I had thirteen sledge-loads of this meat brought to
Cumberland House in one day, and also two of the heads of this animal
unskinned, but the horns {361} were chopped off; a proof of their
wearing them the whole Winter. They are the most stupid of all the deer
kind, and frequently make a shrill whistling, and quivering noise, not
very unlike the braying of an ass, which directs the hunter to the very
spot where they are. They generally keep in large herds, and when they
find plenty of pasture, remain a long time in one place. Those deer are
seldom an object of chace with the Indians bordering on Basquiau, except
when moose and other game fail. Their skins, when dressed, very much
resemble that of the moose, though they are much thinner, and have this
peculiar quality, that they will wash as well as shamoy leather; whereas
all the other leathers and pelts dressed by the Indians, if they get
wet, turn quite hard, unless great care be taken to keep constantly
rubbing them while drying.
The person who informed Mr. Pennant that the we-was-kish and the moose
are the same animal, never saw one of them; and the only reason he had
to suppose it, was the great resemblance of their skins: yet it is
rather strange, that so indefatigable a collector of Natural History as
the late Mr. Andrew Graham, should have omitted making particular
enquiry about them: for any foreign Indian, particularly those that
reside near Basquiau, could easily have convinced him to the contrary.
{362} _Animals with Canine Teeth._
[Sidenote: Wolves.]
WOLVES[127] are frequently met with in the countries West of Hudson's
Bay, both on the barren grounds and among the woods, but they are not
numerous; it is very uncommon to see more than three or four of them in
a herd. Those that keep to the Westward, among the woods, are generally
of the usual colour, but the greatest part of those that are killed by
the Esquimaux are perfectly white. All the wolves in Hudson's Bay are
very shy of the human race, yet when sharp set, they frequently follow
the Indians for several days, but always keep at a distance. They are
great enemies to the Indian dogs, and frequently kill and eat those that
are heavy loaded, and cannot keep up with the main body. The Northern
Indians have formed strange ideas of this animal, as they think it does
not eat its victuals raw; but by a singular and wonderful sagacity,
peculiar to itself, has a method of cooking them without fire. The
females are much swifter than the males; for which reason the Indians,
both Northern and Southern, are of opinion that they kill the greatest
part of the game.
This cannot, however, always be the case; for to the North of Churchill
they, in general, live a forlorn life all the Winter, and are seldom
seen in pairs till the Spring, when they begin to couple; and generally
keep in pairs all the Summer. They always burrow under-ground to bring
forth their young; and though it is natural {363} to suppose them very
fierce at those times, yet I have frequently seen the Indians go to
their dens, and take out the young ones and play with them. I never knew
a Northern Indian hurt one of them: on the contrary, they always put
them carefully into the den again; and I have sometimes seen them paint
the faces of the young Wolves with vermillion, or red ochre.
[Sidenote: Foxes of various colours.]