[Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1 by John Franklin]@TWC D-Link book
Narrative of a Journey to the Shores of the Polar Sea, in the Years 1819-20-21-22, Volume 1

CHAPTER III
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They met in the spring at Carlton House, after passing the winter in different parts of the country, during which the Indian's child died.
The conjurer had the folly to boast that he had caused its death, and the enraged father shot him dead on the spot.

It may be remarked, however, that both these Indians were inhabitants of the plains, and had been taught, by their intercourse with the turbulent Stone Indians, to set but comparatively little value on the life of a man.
It might be thought that the Crees have benefited by their long intercourse with civilized nations.

That this is not so much the case as it ought to be, is not entirely their own fault.

They are capable of being, and I believe willing to be, taught; but no pains have hitherto been taken to inform their minds[7], and their white acquaintances seem in general to find it easier to descend to the Indian customs, and modes of thinking, particularly with respect to women, than to attempt to raise the Indians to theirs.

Indeed such a lamentable want of morality has been displayed by the white traders in their contests for the interests of their respective companies, that it would require a long series of good conduct to efface from the minds of the native population the ideas they have formed of the white character.
Notwithstanding the frequent violations of the rights of property they have witnessed, and but too often experienced, in their own persons, these savages, as they are termed, remain strictly honest.


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