“Here Be Dragons”: a meeting of bagpipes and a Cree Indian in Peter C. Newman's new book

Did bagpipes, the Hudson's Bay Company and Cree Indians ever meet? 

Here's a story sent to me by Heather Pawsey – that gorgeous blonde opera soprano who sings in French, Italian, German, Gaelic and Mandarin.  Also featured in the Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.


"In Peter C. Newman's latest boook, Here be Dragons, the following
descriptive passage might interest Scottish types.  Newman describes a
Hudson's Bay Company executive (from Scotland, of course) who toured
the North with his personal piper.  A Cree Indian, on hearing the
bagpipes for the first time, described the occasion to his Chief:
 
"One white man was dressed like a woman, in a skirt of many colours. 
He had whiskers growing from his belt and fancy leggings.  He carried a
black swan which had many legs with ribbons tied to them.  The swan's
body he put under his arm upside down then put its head in his mouth
and bit it.  At the same time, he pinched its neck with his fingers and
squeezed the body under his arm until it made a terrible noise."

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