ures; the
sheep, oxen, and cows, are turned out into the woods or commons, without
any fear for them. Partridges are very common, and are large-sized, with
flesh very white. The hares are scarce, and have a white fur. There are
a great many beavers, elks, cariboux, (moose-deer) and other beasts of
the cold northern countries.

The original inhabitants of this country are the savages, who may be
divided into three nations, the _Mickmakis_, the _Maricheets_, or
_Abenaquis_, (being scarcely different nations) and the _Canibats_.

The _Mickmakis_ are the most numerous, but not accounted so good
warriors as the others: but they are all much addicted to hunting, and
to venery; in which last, however, they observe great privacy. They are
fond of strong liquors, and especially of brandy: that is their greatest
vice. They are also very uncurious of paying the debts they contract,
not from natural dishonesty, but from their having no notion of
property, or of meum or tuum. They will sooner part with all they have,
in the shape of a gift, than with any thing in that of payment. Honors
and goods being all in common amongst them, all the numerous vices,
which are founded upon those two motives, are not to be found in them.
Yet it is true, that they have chiefs to whom they give the title of
_Sagamo_; but all of them almost, at some time or other, assume to
themselves this quality, which is never granted by universal consent,
but to the personal consideration of distinguished merit in councils, or
in arms. Their troops have this particularity, that they are, for the
most part, composed of nothing but officers; insomuch that it is rare to
find a savage in the service that will own himself a private man. This
want of subordination does not, however, hinder them from concurring
together in action, when their native ferocity and emulation stand them,
in some sort, instead of discipline.

They are extreamly vindictive, of which I shall give you one example.
Mons. _Daunay_, a French captain, with a servant, being overset in a
canoe, within sight of some savages, they threw themselves into the
water to save them, and the servant was actually saved. But the savage,
who had pitched upon Mons. _Daunay_, seeing who it was, and remembering
some blows with a cane he had a few days before received from him, took
care to souse him so often in the water, that he drowned him before he
got ashore.

It is remarked, that in proportion as the Europea