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"Three Indians Came In A Canoe With Mats, Roots, And The Berries
Of The Sacacommis.
These people proceed with a dexterity
and finesse in their bargains which, if they have not learned
it from
Their foreign visitors, may show how nearly allied
is the cunning of savages to the little arts of traffic.
They begin by asking double or treble the value of what they
have to sell, and lower their demand in proportion to the greater
or less degree of ardor or knowledge of the purchaser, who, with all
his management, is not able to procure the article for less
than its real value, which the Indians perfectly understand.
Our chief medium of trade consists of blue and white beads, files, -
with which they sharpen their tools, - fish-hooks, and tobacco;
but of all these articles blue beads and tobacco are
the most esteemed."
But, although their surroundings were not of a sort to make one very jolly,
when Christmas came they observed the day as well as they could.
Here is what the journal says of the holiday: -
"We were awaked at daylight by a discharge of firearms,
which was followed by a song from the men, as a compliment
to us on the return of Christmas, which we have always
been accustomed to observe as a day of rejoicing.
After breakfast we divided our remaining stock of tobacco,
which amounted to twelve carrots [hands], into two parts;
one of which we distributed among such of the party as make
use of it, making a present of a handkerchief to the others.
The remainder of the day was passed in good spirits,
though there was nothing in our situation to excite much gayety.
The rain confined us to the house, and our only luxuries
in honor of the season were some poor elk, so much spoiled
that we ate it through sheer necessity, a few roots, and some
spoiled pounded fish.
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