Thurfday 25.

JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

latitude; the variation of the compafs being about twenty-fix or twenty-

feven degrees to the Eaft.

In the afternoon I affembled the Indians, in order to inform them that
I fhould take my departure on the following day; but that people would
remain on the fpot till their countrymen, whom they had mentioned,
fhould arrive; and that, if they brought a fufhicient quantity of {kins to
make it anfwer, the Frenchmen would return for more goods, with a
view to winter here, and build a fort,* which would be continued as long
as they fhould be found to deferve it. They affured me, that it would be
a great encouragement to them to have a fettlement of ours in their
country; and that they fhould exert themfelves to the utmoft to kill
beaver, as they would then be certain of getting an adequate value for
them. Hitherto, they faid, the Chepewyans always pillaged them; or,
at moft, gave little or nothing for the fruits of their labour, which had
greatly difcouraged them; and that, in confequence of this treatment,
they had no motive to purfue the beaver, but to obtain a fufficient

quantity of food and raiment.

Inow wrote to Meffrs. Macleod and Mackenzie, and addreffed my
papers to the former, at Athabafca.

We left this place at three this morning, our canoe being deeply laden,
as we had embarked fome packages that had come in the canoes of
M. Le Roux. We were faluted on our departure with fome vollies of
{mall arms, which we returned, and fteered South by Weft ftraight

* Fort, is the name givento any eftablifhment in this country.

acrofs