In this case even, the man's family had sent all the skins they could gather together, and gradually acquitted themselves of the amount due, in order that the spirit of the dead man might rest in peace, which it could not do if his debts were not acquitted.
In the following autumn he had an experience which showed him how near famine was to great abundance, and how ready the Amerindians were in cases of even slight privation to turn cannibal, kill and eat the weaker members of the party.

He was making an excursion to the Sault de Sainte Marie, and took with him three half-breed Canadians and a young Indian woman who was journeying in that direction to see her relations.

As the distance was short, and they expected to obtain much fish by the way, they only took with them as provisions a quart of maize for each person.

On the first night of their journey they encamped on the island of Naniboju and set their net to catch fish.
But there arose a violent storm, which continued for three days, during which it was impossible for them to take up the net or to leave the island.

In consequence of this they ate up all their maize.