OF THE FUR TRADE, &c. CXXVii

Its chief vegetable fubftance is the mofs, on which the deer feed; and
a kind of rock mofs, which, in times of {carcity, preferves the lives of
the natives. When boiled in water, it diflolves into a clammy, glutinous,
fubftance, that affords a very fufficient nourifhment. But, notwithftand-
ing the barren flate of their country, with proper care and economy,
thefe people might live in great comfort, for the lakes abound with fifh,
and the hills are covered with deer. Though, of all the Indian people
of this continent they are confidered as the moft provident, they fuffer
feverely at certain feafons, and particularly in the dead of winter, when
they are under the neceflity of retiring to their fcanty, {tinted woods.
To the Weftward of them the mufk-ox may be found, but they have
no dependence on it as an article of fuftenance. There are alfo large
hares, a few white wolves, peculiar to their country, and feveral kinds
of foxes, with white and grey partridges, &c. The beaver and moofe-
deer they do not find till they come within 60 degrees North latitude;
and the buffalo is ftill further South.” That animal is known to frequent
an higher latitude to the Weftward of their country. Thefe people
* bring pieces of beautiful variegated marble, which are found on the fur-
face of the earth. ' It is eafily worked, bears a fine polifh, and hardens
with time; it endures heat, and is manufactured into pipes or calumets,
as they are very fond of f{moking tobacco; a luxury which the Euro-

peans communicated to them.

Their amufements or recreations are but few. Their mufic is fo
inharmonious, and their dancing fo awkward, that they might be fup-
pofed to be afhamed of both, as they very feldom praétile either.
They alfo fhoot at marks, and play at the games common among them ;

but