Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Characters, Customs, And Manners, Of The Savages Of Cape Breton.
and by the repeated alarms Avith which he used to beat up their haunts , even in one night , he knew the way to oblige them to retire to their room or bed , by which means he calculated the number Avhich he had seen in the day . Nothing could equal his sagacity , for he could tell at what time they would come to load their tails with earth , and to cut such particular shrubs Avith their sharp teeth , in order to raise their dikes . Nothing could be more surprising
than his faculty in distinguishing in what spot those animals Avere housed . Was not he also most clever at making gins for lynxes and martens ? He had particular secrets to oblige these animals to run into his snares , preferably to those of others . He had likewise so great a quantity of furs , that he Avas never at a loss to oblige his friends .
' Let us noAV come to thy grandfather , who has made a thousand presents of sea wolves to the youths of his time . HOAV often have we had the pleasure of greasing ottr hair with oil , upon those happy occasions , in his cottage 1 HOAV often has he invited , and even . forced us to go home with him upon our returning -with empty canoes , in order to repair the damage Ave had sustained ! But did not thy father
distinguish himself in every branch ! Was not he thoroughly possessed of the art of shooting game , either flying or at rest 1 and Avas he not always sure of his aim ! But above all , Avas he not excellent in drawing the bustard towards his statues . We are all of us pretty Avell versed in the art of counterfeiting the cry of those animals ;
but he surpassed us in particular inflexions of the voice , so as to render it difficult to distinguish his cry from that of a bustard , as he excelled in other arts by which he Avas sure to succeed . We Avere all ashamed , Avhenever he returned from the chace . True it is , that the good use he made of his game banished all envy from our breasts , and filled us with sentiments of gratitude . In regard to the encomiums I miht bestow on thyselfI confess thatloaded as I have
g , , been with thy favours , I want words to express them . But thou mayst read my sentiments in my looks , and be satisfied with the thanks which I give thee , by squeezing thy hand . ' This speech being ended , another savage stands up , and abridges it . Lie commends the eloquence with which the first has celebrated the ancestors of their generous host . He says , that he has nothing
farther to add to his encomiums , but , at the same time , he considers that the principal task has been left to himself , Avhich is to celebrate the festivity with song and dance . Then he desires their generous entertainer to look upon every step he is going to make in cadence , as a transport of his gratitude , and at the same time he begins to dance Avith all his agility . After this ^ dance , to Avhich all the spectators beat due measurehe begins his ric on the feastand on
, panegy , the Avoithy landlord . This speech dwells on the same points of merit , that Avere celebrated in the former discourse , and is concluded by a second dance . Each guest takes his turn in the same manner ; and the gratitude of the Avhole company differs only according to the genius ' of the person that expresses it . [ TO BE CONTINUED . ]
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of The Characters, Customs, And Manners, Of The Savages Of Cape Breton.
and by the repeated alarms Avith which he used to beat up their haunts , even in one night , he knew the way to oblige them to retire to their room or bed , by which means he calculated the number Avhich he had seen in the day . Nothing could equal his sagacity , for he could tell at what time they would come to load their tails with earth , and to cut such particular shrubs Avith their sharp teeth , in order to raise their dikes . Nothing could be more surprising
than his faculty in distinguishing in what spot those animals Avere housed . Was not he also most clever at making gins for lynxes and martens ? He had particular secrets to oblige these animals to run into his snares , preferably to those of others . He had likewise so great a quantity of furs , that he Avas never at a loss to oblige his friends .
' Let us noAV come to thy grandfather , who has made a thousand presents of sea wolves to the youths of his time . HOAV often have we had the pleasure of greasing ottr hair with oil , upon those happy occasions , in his cottage 1 HOAV often has he invited , and even . forced us to go home with him upon our returning -with empty canoes , in order to repair the damage Ave had sustained ! But did not thy father
distinguish himself in every branch ! Was not he thoroughly possessed of the art of shooting game , either flying or at rest 1 and Avas he not always sure of his aim ! But above all , Avas he not excellent in drawing the bustard towards his statues . We are all of us pretty Avell versed in the art of counterfeiting the cry of those animals ;
but he surpassed us in particular inflexions of the voice , so as to render it difficult to distinguish his cry from that of a bustard , as he excelled in other arts by which he Avas sure to succeed . We Avere all ashamed , Avhenever he returned from the chace . True it is , that the good use he made of his game banished all envy from our breasts , and filled us with sentiments of gratitude . In regard to the encomiums I miht bestow on thyselfI confess thatloaded as I have
g , , been with thy favours , I want words to express them . But thou mayst read my sentiments in my looks , and be satisfied with the thanks which I give thee , by squeezing thy hand . ' This speech being ended , another savage stands up , and abridges it . Lie commends the eloquence with which the first has celebrated the ancestors of their generous host . He says , that he has nothing
farther to add to his encomiums , but , at the same time , he considers that the principal task has been left to himself , Avhich is to celebrate the festivity with song and dance . Then he desires their generous entertainer to look upon every step he is going to make in cadence , as a transport of his gratitude , and at the same time he begins to dance Avith all his agility . After this ^ dance , to Avhich all the spectators beat due measurehe begins his ric on the feastand on
, panegy , the Avoithy landlord . This speech dwells on the same points of merit , that Avere celebrated in the former discourse , and is concluded by a second dance . Each guest takes his turn in the same manner ; and the gratitude of the Avhole company differs only according to the genius ' of the person that expresses it . [ TO BE CONTINUED . ]