186 Mackenzie’s Voyages

overpowering it, it would dash away abruptly as if terrorised
by what it had seen. It was reduced almost to a skeleton.
Food was dropped for it, and in a short time it regained its
sagacity, and once more became an important member of
the party.

That night, fearing that their friends might turn up in
the réle of enemies, they did not kindle a fire, but each man
took his tree, and laid down in his clothes with his gun ready,
beneath the protection of its branches.

At eight o’clock on a fine summer’s morning, just at
that time when the fragrant forest is pictured with such
vividness against the blue sky, they arrived at the upper
village, which they had christened the Friendly Village,
now known to settlers in this valley as Burnt Bridge, where
they were received with great kindness. The plutocratic
chief, Soocomlick, who was at his weir, was sent for, and
on his return he immediately entertained the explorers with
the most respectful hospitality. ‘‘In short he behaved to us
with so much attention and kindness that I did not withhold
anything in my power to give, which might afford him
satisfaction. To his other acts of kindness he added as large
a supply of fish as we chose to take.”

Mackenzie concluded that some of these river villages were
merely temporary residences during the salmon run. He
observed that the people as a whole seemed to be on a
footing of equality, while the strangers in their midst were
compelled to obey the people or quit the village. ‘The chief
was lord over all. While he did not at all times exercise his
authority, he was nevertheless automatically looked up to,
and was expected on special occasions to express the will of
the people. Ordinarily, however, his own will was executed,
without particular reference to the wishes of the populace.
They appeared to be of a friendly disposition, but subject