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(p. 169)
"Having provided myself with some drawing materials, I amused
the Indians with a sketch of the interior of the tent and its inhabitants.
An old woman, who was relating with great volubility an
account of some quarrel with the traders at Cumberland House,
broke off from her narration when she perceived my design; supposing,
perhaps, that I was employing some charm against her; for the
Indians have been taught a supernatural dread of particular pictures.
One of the young men drew, with a piece of charcoal, a
figure resembling a frog, on the side of the tent, and by significantly
pointing at me, excited peals of merriment from his companions.
The caricature was comic; but I soon fixed their attention, by
producing my pocket compass, and affecting it with a knife. They
have great curiosity, which might easily be directed to the attainment
of useful knowledge. As the dirt accumulated about these
people was visibly of a communicative nature, I removed at night
into the open air, where the thermometer fell to 15° below zero,
although it was the next day 60º above it."
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