These parties go to war almost every summer and sometimes muster three or four hundred horsemen on each side.  Their leaders, in approaching the foe, exercise all the caution of the most skilful generals; and whenever either party considers that it has gained the best ground, or finds it can surprise the other, the attack is made.  They advance at once to close quarters and the slaughter is consequently great though the battle may be short.  The prisoners of either sex are seldom spared but slain on the spot with wanton cruelty.  The dead are scalped and he is considered the bravest person who bears the greatest number of scalps from the field.  These are afterwards attached to his war dress and worn as proofs of his prowess.  The victorious party during a certain time blacken their faces and every part of their dress in token of joy, and in that state they often come to the establishment, if near, to testify their delight by dancing and singing, bearing all the horrid insignia of war, to display their individual feats.  When in mourning they completely cover their dress and hair with white mud.

The Crees in the vicinity of Carlton House have the same cast of countenance as those about Cumberland but are much superior to them in appearance, living in a more abundant country.  These men are more docile, tractable, and industrious than the Stone Indians and bring greater supplies of provision and furs to the posts.  Their general mode of dress resembles that of the Stone Indians; but sometimes they wear cloth leggings, blankets, and other useful articles when they can afford to purchase them.  They also decorate their hair with buttons.

The Crees procure guns from the traders and use them in preference to the bow and arrow; and from them the Stone Indians often get supplied either by stealth, gaming, or traffic.  Like the rest of their nation these Crees are remarkably fond of spirits and would make any sacrifice to obtain them.  I regretted to find the demand for this pernicious article had greatly increased within the last few years.  The following notice of these Indians is extracted from Dr. Richardson’s Journal: 

The Asseenaboine, termed by the Crees Asseeneepoytuck or Stone Indians, are a tribe of Sioux who speak a dialect of the Iroquois, one of the great divisions under which the American philologists have classed the known dialects of the aborigines of North America.  The Stone Indians or, as they name themselves, Eascab, originally entered this part of the country under the protection of the Crees and, in concert with them, attacked and drove to the westward the former inhabitants of the banks of the Saskatchewan.  They are still the allies of the Crees but have now become more numerous than their former protectors.  They exhibit all the bad qualities ascribed to the Mengwe or Iroquois, the stock whence they are sprung.  Of their actual number I could obtain no precise information but it is very great.  The Crees who inhabit the plains, being fur hunters, are better known to the traders.