107

101.

laugh, and seizing his Rifle in an instant suiting
the action to the word aimed at a small piece of wood
not larger than my arm floating in the river at a distance
of a hundred and twenty yards.

As quick as the flash so quickly sprung into
the small Canoe a beautiful boy of ten years of age
who paddling the fragile bark toward the target with
a skill and rapidity beyond his years, thrust his tiny
finger through the perforation made by the ball from
his fathers unerring rifle, the young son of the forest
called out "tell the white men that your ball hit
true".

This gave us an opportunity of complimenting
his skill as a dead shot. - which seemed to
flatter his vanity and holds good what I have already
stated that the lofty pride, and fiery temper of the
Indian is alone to be subdued, by kind words and
flattering expressions, which soothe and please him
as they would a spoiled child.

Here we had a forcible example of this characteristic
disposition of the Indian Indigenous, a few coaxing
words and kind promises, had the immediate effect
to subdue the tiger of the forest, into the meekness
of the lamb.

I again drew him to the Wigwam, desirous
to know in what relation he stood with the different
ladies of his establishment.

"How is it my son asked I - there being only
three men, that you have four squaws?"

"Well Father me tell you - That my squaws.