ce of metal, when
brought suddenly out of such intense cold into a warm room, will in this
way become covered with a pure white coating of hoar-frost. It does not
remain long in this state, however, as the warmth of the room soon heats
the metal and melts the ice. Thus, in about ten minutes our guns
assumed three different appearances: when we entered the house, they
were clear, polished, and dry; in five minutes they were white as snow;
and in five more, dripping wet!

On the following morning a small party of Indians arrived with furs, and
Mr Wilson went with them to the trading-room, whither I accompanied
him.

The trading-room--or, as it is frequently called, the Indian-shop--was
much like what is called a store in the United States. It contained
every imaginable commodity likely to be needed by Indians. On various
shelves were piled bales of cloth of all colours, capotes, blankets,
caps, etcetera; and in smaller divisions were placed files,
scalping-knives, gun-screws, flints, balls of twine, fire-steels,
canoe-awls, and glass beads of all colours, sizes, and descriptions.
Drawers in the counter contained needles, pins, scissors, thimbles,
fish-hooks, and vermilion for painting canoes and faces. The floor was
strewn with a variety of copper and tin kettles, from half a pint to a
gallon; and on a stand in the furthest corner of the room stood about a
dozen trading guns, and beside them a keg of powder and a box of shot.

Upon our entrance into this room trade began. First of all, an old
Indian laid a pack of furs upon the counter, which Mr Wilson counted
and valued. Having done this, he marked the amount opposite the old
man's name in his "Indian book," and then handed him a number of small
pieces of wood. The use of these pieces of wood is explained in the
third chapter. The Indian then began to look about him, opening his
eyes gradually, as he endeavoured to find out which of the many things
before him he would like to have. Sympathising with his eyes, his mouth
slowly opened also; and having remained in this state for some time, the
former looked at Mr Wilson, and the latter pronounced _ahcoup_
(blanket). Having received the blanket, he paid the requisite number of
bits of wood for it, and became abstracted again. In this way he bought
a gun, several yards of cloth, a few beads, etcetera, till all his
sticks were gone, and he made way for another. The Indians were
uncommonly slow, however, and Mr