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Show 34 THE LII.Y AND THE TOTEM. blossoms in the land. Our colonists at Fort Charles did not per plcx the J ndians with doctrinal qucrotions. It is greatly to bo fc:1rcd, indeed, that religion did not, in any way, disturb them in their solitudes. At all events, it was not of such a freezing temper a.s to deny them the indulgence of an intercourse with tho natives, which, for n season, was very agreeable and very inspiriting to both the parties. But smiles and fmnshinc cannot last forever. Tho grn.narics of the lndin.us bcgnn to f:1il under their own profligacy and tho demands of tho Vrcnchmcn. 'l'ho resources of the former, never abundant, were soon exhausted in providing for the additional hungry mouths whith had como among them. Shrinking from labor, they address~d as liltle of it as they wen could, to the cultivation of their petty nw.i1.e fields. They planted them, as we do now, a couple of grains of corn to each hill, at iuterYals of three or four squu.re (;Jet, and aa the corn grew to a sufficient height, peas were distributed among tho roots, to twine about the stalks when the Yincs could no longer impair its growth. 'l'hey cropped the same land twice in each summc1·. The supplies, thus procured, would have been totally inadequ:~.to to their wants, but for tho abundant game, the masts of tho forest, and such harsh but wholesome roots as thC'y could pulYcl'izo t~.nd convert into hrendstuff~. 'l'beir store was thus limited always, and adapted to tl1cir own wants simJ>Iy. Any additional demand, however small, produced a scarcity in their granaries. 'l'hc improvidence of .Audusta, or his liberality, prcvenWd him from considering this danger, until it began to be felt. Tic had supplied the Frenchmen until his stock was exhausted ; no more being left in his possession than would suffice to sow his fields. " F or this r eaaon,"--euch wll8 the langungc of tho savnge mo- T!fe COLO:-;"\' U:-ID~:n AI.Jli:;RT. 3b nnrch-" we must retire to the forest~, und live upon itfi mast and roots, until harvest time. 'Ve arc sorry that we can l'upply you no longer; you must now seck the granaries of our neighbors. There is a king called Cota:xrs, a prince of great might and renown in this country, whoso province lies toward tho south. llis lands nrc \'cry fertile. His stores arc nmplc at all seasons. Tic alone can furniJ;h you with food for a long time. Defore you approach the territories of Coucxis, there is his brothel;', king Ouade, who is scarcely less wca\1l1y. H e i~; n generous chief, who will bo very joyful if be may but once beholU you. Seck out these, and your w:mts shall be stlpplied." The advice was taken. The Frenchmen had no alternative. 'fhey addressed themselves ftrst to Ounde. Ilis territories by along the river Delle, some t\vcnty-fim leagues oouth of Port Uopl. Tie receh·cd them with the greatest f:n·or and fill :-d their pinnace with maize and bcnns. Tie \vcleomed them to hi11 abode with equal state and hospitality. IIis bouse is described :L'~ being hung with a laJ>estry richly wrought of feathers. 'fhc couch upon which he slept, was dressed with "white CO\'CrleUcs, embroidered with devises of very wittie and fmc workmnnship, and fringed round about wilh n. fringe dyed in the colour of scm·lot." llis gifte. to our :Frenchmen were not limited to the commodities they craYcd. lie gave them six eo¥crlets, and tapestry such as decorated his couch and dwelling; specimens of a domestic manufacture which declare for tastes and a degree of art which seems, in some degree, to prove their intimacy with the moro polished and powerful nations of the south. In regard to food hereafwr, king Ouade promised that his new n..cquaintance should never want. Thus was tho first intercourse mn.iotained by our Huguenots |