John Long's journal, 1768-1782Long, J. (John), Indian trader
History
John Long's journal, 1768-1782
Long, J. (John), Indian trader
Fur trade -- Canada; Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Languages; Ojibwa language
{91} Judging it prudent to remove his suspicions, I gave him two gallons
of rum, a carrot of tobacco, a shirt, a pair of leggons, a scalping
knife, &c. and several articles to his wife. Having received the
presents, he called her to drink with him, and thank the trader with a
cheerful heart for his great kindness. When they were a little merry he
began to sing, and I heard him repeat these words: “_Mornooch Amik kee
zargetoone mentimoyamish_;” or, “I do not care though the Beaver loves
my wife.” This did not please me, as I knew his jealousy would increase
in proportion to the quantity of liquor he drank. However, I used the
utmost precaution, securing his weapons to prevent his doing me any
injury. His wife hearing him repeat the words so frequently, began to be
angry, and pulled his hair and scratched his face. I thought this a
favourable opportunity to express my dislike, and told him he was a fool
to be jealous; that I gave him the rum to drive away the bad spirit, but
it had a contrary effect; that I never wanted any thing of his wife but
to make or mend snow shoes, and always paid her for her trouble. Yes,
cries the wife, he is a fool, Beaver, and I will beat him; which she
instantly did, and cut his head with a glass bottle. I then interfered,
and parted them.
The moment I was gone, he began the old song, and continued singing till
he was sober; when getting up, he came to me and said, “Beaver, I have
seen the bad spirit in my dream, who told me that the trader had robbed
me.” Irritated at the expression, I told him his lips never spoke truth,
and that he had no sense; and thinking it right to suppress this humour,
beat him very severely. When he had recovered his reason, he said to me,
“Beaver, you have sense, though you have spotted my carcase.” I then
remonstrated with him on the great {92} folly of being jealous; but he
was sullen, and made no reply. He then called his wife, but she being
asleep did not hear him; he called a second time, and asked for his gun,
tomahawk, and scalping knife; but not receiving any answer, he was very
angry, and said to me, “Beaver, I will throw away my body;” to which I
did not think it prudent to make any reply. He then laid himself down on
the ground, and called his wife a third time. She came to him, and
observing displeasure in his countenance, told him not to be angry with
the Beaver, for he was a great warrior, and always opened his heart to
them. He ordered her to bring him a bark bowl full of water, and set it
down carefully between the Beaver’s legs. Whilst she was gone for the
water, he said to me, “Come here, Beaver, and I will shew you that I
have nothing sweet on my lips, but will speak the truth.” The wife
returned and placed the bowl of water as her husband directed; when it
had stood some time he said, “Beaver, put your finger in the water, and
let it remain till I tell you to take it out.” I obeyed him with the
utmost cheerfulness, and in a few minutes, by his desire, withdrew it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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