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44 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

ey friohes beneath an hill, on the North fhore, and on our approach we
“—v——~ perceived the natives climbing the afcent to gain’ the woods. The
Indians, however, in the two fmall canoés which were ahead of us,
having affured them of our friendly intentions, they returned to their
fires, and we difembarked. Several of them were clad in hare-fkins,
but in every other circumftance they refembled’ thofe whom we had
already feen. We were, however, informed that they were of a different
tribe, called the Hare Indians, as-hares and fifh are their principal fup-
port, from the fcarcity of rein-deer and beaver, which are the only
animals: of the larger kind that frequent this part of the country.

They were twenty-five innumber; and among them was a woman who
was’ affli@ed with an abcefs in the belly, and reduced, in confequence,

to a mere fkeleton: atthe fame time feveral old women were finging
and howling around her; but whether thefe noifes were to: operate as a
charm for her cure, or merely to amufe and confole her, I do not pre-
tend’ to determine. A {mall quantity of our ufual prefents were
received by them with the greateft fatisfaction.

_ Here we made an exchange of our guide, who had become fo trouble.
fome that wé were obliged to watch him night and day, except when
he was upon the water. The man, however, who had agreed to go in
his place foon repented of his. engagement, and endeavoured to perfuade
us that fome of his relations further down the river, would readily ac-
company us, and were much better acquainted with the river than him-
felf. But, as he had informed us ten minutes before that we fhould fee
no more of his tribe, we paid very little attention to his remonftrances,
and compelled him to embark,

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