a

NORTH WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

river, and ftemmed the current. At two in theafternoon the water was
quite fhallow in every part of our courfe, and we could always find the
bottom with the paddle. At feven we landed, encamped, and fet the
nets. Here the Indians killed two geefe, two cranes, anda white owl.
Since we entered the river, we experienced a very agreeable change in
the temperature of the air; but this pleafant circumftance was not with-
‘out its inconvenience, as it fubje€ted us to the perfecution of the mu

quitoes.

On taking up the nets, they were found to contain but fix fifh. We
embarked at four in the morning, and pafled four encampments, which
appeared to have been very lately inhabited. We then landed upona
{mall round ifland, clofe to the Eaftern fhore, which poffeffed fomewhat of
a facred charaéter, as the top of it feemed to be a place of fepulture, from
the numerous graves which we obferved there. We found the frame of
a {mall canoe, with various difhes, troughs, and other utenfils, which
had been the living property of thofe who could now ule them no more,
and form the ordinary accompaniments of their laft abodes. As no part
of the {kins that muft have covered the canoe was remaining, we con-
eluded that it had been eaten by wild animals that inhabit, or occa-
fionally frequent, the ifland. The frame of the canoe, which was entire,
was put together with whalebone: it was fewed in fome parts, and tied
in others, The fledges were from four to eight feet long; the length
of the bars was upwards of two feet; the runners were two inches thick
and nine inches deep ; the prow was two feet and an half high, and formed
of two pieces, fewed with whalebone; to three other thin fpars of
wood, which were of the fame height, and fixed in the runners by means

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