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and eating petrified Flesh – Such as Beasts that are found dead in their Snares, who had perhaps been there a month or so, any dead Animal which they find, that dies either of wounds or Sickness which is often almost wasted by the maggots they make no Scruple to Eat it with as good an appetite as if it was the most delicious food – and even Say, that they find it had a much sweeter Taste[.] The Cures for these disorders I have already taken notice of under the Article of Medicines[.]

Natives}

The inhabitants of the Country I have here endeavored to describe, call themselves Beaver Indians, (but their original Name is Echel-la-o-tuna or Gens du Bois Fort) and pretend to be a branch of the Beaver Indian Tribe of Peace River – from whom they say they had formerly been seperated and driven this way by their inveterate enemies the Crees, who before European Arms had been introduced into this Quarter used to be continually waging War with them untill they (the Beaver Indians) were supplied with Firelocks and Ammunition[.] These wars exterminated great numbers of them, insomuc[h] that they were at length reduced from a numerous Tribe to but about 200 men[.]

Their language bears Still analogy to that of the Peace River Indians, who are at most not above seven or eight days walk in an Eastern direction from the Place where those of the Grand River reside[.] But tho there seems to be some affinity between the languages of these two Tribes yet they differ considerably in their manners and Customs[.] For these Indians are naturally

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