d went to live for a time in the
wigwams of the Palefaces, he wished to find out for himself what they
wanted in our land, and why they were not content to remain in their own
land. The answer that was at first given to my questions seemed to me
good--a reply that might have even come from the wise heads of the Cree
Nation; but, after much palaver, I found that there was contradiction in
what the Palefaces said, so that I began to think they were fools and
knew not how to talk wisely. A Cree never reasons foolishly--as you all
know well--or, if he does, we regard him as nobody--fit only to fight
and to die without any one caring much. But as I lived longer with the
Palefaces I found that they were not all fools. Some things they knew
and did well. Other things they did ill and foolishly. Then I was
puzzled, for I found that they did not all think alike, as we do, and
that some have good hearts as well as good heads. Others have the heads
without the hearts, and some have the hearts without the heads--Waugh!"

"Waugh!" repeated the listening braves, to fill up the pause here, as it
were, with a note of approval.

"The Palefaces told me," continued Okematan with great deliberation, as
if about to make some astounding revelations, "that their land was too
small to hold them, and so they came away. I told them that that was
wise; that Cree Indians would have done the same. But then came the
puzzle, for they told me that there were vast tracts of land where they
lived with plenty of lakes, rivers, and mountains, in which there was
nobody--only fish and birds and deer. Then I said, `You told me that
your land was too small to hold you; why did you not go and live on
these mountains, and fish and shoot and be happy?' To this they
answered that those fine lands were claimed by a few great chiefs, who
kept them for their own shooting and fishing, and drove out all the
braves with their wives and families and little ones to crowd upon the
shores of the great salt-water lake, and live there on a few fish and
shells--for even there the great chiefs would not allow them to have all
the fishing, but kept the best of it for themselves! Or, if they did
not like that, the poor braves were told to go and live in what they
called cities--where there are thousands of wigwams crowded together,
and even piled on the top of each other,--but I think the Palefaces were
telling lies when they said that--Waugh!"

Again there were ma