OF THE FUR TRADE, &c. Ixxxili

time met with others who had penetrated, with the fame defigns, into the
Athabafca country, which will be defcribed hereafter.

The fpring was the period of this joyful meeting, when their time was
occupied in feafling, dancing, and other paftimes, which were occa-
fionally fufpended for facrifice, and religious folemnity: while the nar-
ratives of their travels, and the hiftory of their wars, amufed and animated
the feftival, The time of rejoicing was but fhort, and was foon inter-
rupted by the neceflary preparations for their annual journey to Churchill,
to exchange their furs for fuch European articles as were now become
neceflary to them. The fhortnefs of the feafons, and the great length
of their way requiring the utmoft difpatch, the moft a€tive men of the
tribe, with their youngeft women, and a few of their children undertook
the voyage, under the dire€tion of fome of their chiefs, following the
waters already defcribed, to their difcharge at Churchill F actory, which
are called, as has already been obferved, the Miffinipi, or Great Waters.
There they remained no longer than was fufficient to barter their

commodities, with a fupernumerary, and a day or two to gratify them-_

felves with the indulgence of {pirituous liquors. At the fame time the
inconfiderable quantity they could purchafe to carry away with them,
for a regale with their friends, was held facred, and referved to heighten
the enjoyment of their return home, when the amufements, feftivity,
and religious folemnities of the fpring were repeated. The ufual time
appropriated to thefe convivialities being completed, they feparated, to
purfue their different objeéts; and if they were determined to go to war,

they made the neceffary arrangements for their future operations.

le But