trust; that the settlement was ill supplied; and hence the ungenerous dispensation of his confidence among its venturesome though too credulous leaders.
Had he, however, acquired such insight into the practice of the Indian as he so eminently attained in all other branches of trade; had his mind been as liberal as it was acute, or as ready to reward merit as to find fault; or were he as conversant with human nature as he was expert in a bargain; and had he also begun his undertaking not at the commencement of a war, but at its close, then competency and ease might have been the lot of his servants, instead of misery and want—success might have crowned his ambition, glory finished his career, and the name of Astor might have been handed down with admiration, as having borne away the palm of enterprize.
{286} CHAPTER XVIII
Origin of the Oakinackens—Religion—Good Spirit—Evil
Spirit—Ideas of a future state—Ceremonies—End
of this world—Extent of country—Names and
number of tribes—Warriors—Population—Royal
family—The great chief, or Red Fox—Wild hemp—Long
journeys—Barter—Emblem of royalty—Government—Indian
ideas—Council of chiefs—Manners—Employments—Plurality
of wives—Brawls—Dress
and clothing—Stratagems—A
savage in wolf's clothing—Painted faces and sleek
hair.
After closing the drama of the Pacific Fur Company we shall now raise the curtain a little, and take a cursory peep at the Indians of the interior; but more particularly of the Oakinackens.
The origin of savage nations is mixed up with so
