hoe A GENERAL HISTORY

ihe Knifieneaux as enemies; who now allow them to hunt to the
North of the track which has been defcribed, from Fort du Traite up-
wards, but when they occafionally meet them, they infift on contribu-
tions, and frequently punifh refiftance with their arms. This is fometimes
done at the forts, or places of trade, but then it appears to be a voluntary
gift, A treat of rum is expeéted on the occafion, which the Chepewyans
on no other account ever purchafe; and thofe only who have had fre-
quent intercourfe with the Knifteneaux have any inclination to drink

it,

When the Europeans firft penetrated into this country, in 1777, the
people of both tribes were numerous, but the {mall pox was fatal to them
all, fo that there does not exift of the one, at prefent, more than forty re-
_ fident families; and the other has been from about thirty to two hun-
dred families. Thefe numbers are applicable to the conftant and lefs ambi-
tious inhabitants, who are fatisfied with the quiet pofleffion of a country
affording, without rifk or much trouble, every thing neceflary to their
comfort; for fince traders have fpread themfelves over it, it isno more the
rendezvous of the errant Knifteneaux, part of whom ufed annually to.re-
turn thither from the country of the Beaver River, which they had ex-
plored to its fource in their war and hunting excurfions and as far as the
Safkatchiwine, where they fometimes met people of their own nation, who
had profecuted fimilar conquefts up that river. In that country they
found abundance of fifh and animals, fuch as have been already defcribed,
with the addition of the buffalos, who range in the partial patches of
meadow fcattered along the rivers and lakes. From thence they re-
turned in the fpring to the friends whom they had left; and, at the fame

time