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96

Augult,
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JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

place in their {mall canoe. This river is about two hundred and fifty

~ yards broad at this place, the water clear and of a greenifh colour.

When I landed on the oppofite fhore, I difcovered that the natives had
been there very lately from the print of their feet inthe fand. We con-
tinued walking till five in the afternoon, when we faw feveral fmokes
along the fhore. As we naturally concluded, that thefe were certain
indications where we fhould meet the natives who were the objects of our
fearch, we quickened our pace; but, in our progrefs, experienced a very
fulphurous fmell, and at length difcovered that the whole bank was on
fire for a very confiderable diftance. It proved to be a coal mine, to
which the fire had communicated from an old Indian encampment.
The beach was covered with coals, and the Englifh chief gathered fome
of the fofteft he could find, as a black dye; it being the mineral, as he
informed me, with which the natives render their quills black.

Here we waited for the large canoe, which arrived an hour after us.
At half paft ten we faw feveral Indian marks, which confifted of pieces of
bark fixed on poles, and pointing to the woods, oppofite to which is an old
beaten road, that bore the marks of being lately frequented; the beach alfo
was covered with tracks. Ata {mall diftance were the poles of five lodges
ftanding ; where we Janded and unloaded our canoe. I then difpatched
one of my men and two young Indians to fee if they could find any natives
within a day’s march of us. I wanted the Englifh chief to go, but he
pleaded fatigue, and that it would be of no ule. This was the firft time
he had refufed to comply with my defire, and jealoufy, I believe, was the
caufe of it in the prefent inftance ; though I had taken every precaution
that he fhould not have caufe to be jealous of the Canadians, There

was