Ixiv A GENERAL HISTORY

eflablifhments, of which there are four principal ones. Both thele
rivers are navigable for canoes to their fource, without a fall; though in
fome parts there are rapids, caufed by occafional beds of lime-f{tone,

and gravel; but in general they a fandy bottom.

The Affiniboins, and fome of the Fall, or Big-bellied Indians, are the
principal inhabitants of this country, and border on the river, occupying
the centre part of it; that next Lake Winipic, and about its fource, being
the flation of the Algonquins and Knifteneaux, who have chofen it in pre-
ference to their own country. They do not exceed five hundred fami-
lies. They are not beaver hunters, which accounts for their allowing
the divifion juft mentioned, as the lower and upper parts of this river
have thofe animals, which are not found in the intermediate diftri.
They confine themfelves to hunting the buffalo, and trapping wolves,
which cover the country. What they do not want of the former for
raiment and food, they fometimes make into pemmican, or pounded
meat, while they melt the fat, and prepare the {kins in their hair, for
winter. The wolves they never eat, but produce a tallow from their fat,
and prepare their {kins; all which they bring to exchange for arms and
ammunition, rum, tobacco, knives, and various baubles, with thofe who

go to trafic in their country.

The Algonquins, and the Knifteneaux, on the contrary, attend to
the fur-hunting, fo that they acquire the additional articles of cloth,
blankets, é&c. but their paffion for rum often puts it out of their power
to fupply themfelves with real neceflarics.