When a Northern Indian, from sickness, is unable to
continue his journey with his companions; he is left
behind, covered over with Deer-skins, and is supplied
water, food, and fuel if the situation of the place will
afford it. He is informed of the track which his
companions intend to pursue, and if he is unable to
follow, and if he is unable to follow, or overtake them,
he perishes in the Desart; unless he should have the
good fortune to fall in with some other Tribes of
Indians. It is unnecessary to add that the females are
equally, or still more, exposed to the same fate. See
that very interesting work,
Hearne's Journey
from
Hudson's Bay
to the Northern Ocean.
When the Northern
Lights, as the same writer informs us, vary their
position in the air, they make a rustling and a
crackling noise. This circumstance is alluded to in the
first stanza of the following poem.]
