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Ixxil A GENERAL HISTORY

fecond journal, who are a tribe of the Chepewyans; and, as for the
Knifteneaux, there is no queftion of their having been, and continuing to
be, invaders of this country, from the Eaftward. Formerly, they flruck
terror into all the other tribes whom they met; but now they have loft
the refpe& that was paid them ; as thofe whom they formerly confidered
as barbarians, are now their allies, and confequently become better ac-
quainted with them, and have acquired the ufe of fire-arms. The
former are {till proud without power, and affet to confider the others
as their inferiors: thofe confequently are extremely jealous of them, and,
depending upon their own fuperiority in numbers, will not fubmit
tamely to their infults; fo that the confequences often prove fatal, and
the Knifteneaux are thereby decreafing both in power and number :
fpirituous liquors alfo tend to their diminution, as they are inftigated
thereby to engage in quarrels which frequently have the moft difaftrous

termination among themfelves.

The Stone-Indians muft not be confidered in the fame point of view
refpecting the Knifteneaux, for they have been generally obliged,
from various -caufes, to court their alliance. They, however, are
not without their difagreements, and it is fometimes very difficult to
compofe their differences. Thefe quarrels occafionally take place
with the traders, and fometimes havea tragical conclufion. They gene-
rally originate in confequence of ftealing women and horfes: they
have great numbers) of the latter throughout their plains, which are
brought, as’ has been obferved, from the Spanifh fettlements in
Mexico; and many of them have been feen even in the back parts of
this country, branded with the initials of their original owners namés.

Thofe