140

1793+

January.

January 10.

JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

fented it as a large body of water, and that it lies about one hundred
and twenty miles due Eaft from this place. It is well known to the
Knifteneaux, who are among the inhabitants of the plains on the banks
of the Safkatchiwine river; for formerly, when they ufed to come to
make war in this country, they came in their canoes to that lake, and
left them there; from thence there is a beaten path all the way to the
Fork, or Eaft branch of this river, which was their war-road.

Among the people who were now here, there were two Rocky Moun-
tain Indians, who declared, that the people to whom we had given that
denomination, are by no means entitled to it, and that their country has
ever been in the vicinity. of our prefent fituation. They faid, in fupport
of their affertion, that thefe people were entirely ignorant of thofe parts
which are adjacent to the mountain, as well as the navigation of the
river ; that the Beaver Indians had greatly encroached upon. them, and
would foon force them to retire to the foot of thefe mountains. They
reprefented themfelves as the only real natives of ‘that country then
with me: and added, that the country, and: that part of the river that
intervenes between this place and the mountains, bear much the fame
appearance as that around us; that the former abounds with animals,
but that the courfe of the latter is interrupted, near, and in the moun-
tains, by fucceflive rapids and confiderable falls. Thefe men alfo in-
formed me, that there is another great river towards the mid-day fun,
whofe current runs in that direétion, and that the diftance from it is not

great acrofs the mountains.

The natives brought me plenty of furs. The fmall quantity of
fnow, at this time, was particularly favourable for hunting the beaver, as

from