OF ‘THE FURS TRADE, &c. Xk

that abounded in animals, and where there was plenty of fifh: but
though they did not fuffer from want of food, the intolerable faugue of
fuch a journey could not be eafily repaid to an Indian: they were, there-
fore, highly gratified by feeing people come to their country to relieve
them from fuch long, toilfome, and dangerous journies; and were im-
mediately reconciled to give an advanced price for the articles neceflary
to their comfort and convenience. Mr. Pond’s reception and fuccefs
was accordingly beyond his expettation; and he procured twice as
many furs as his canoes would carry. They alfo fupplied him with as
much provifion as he required during his refidence among them, and
fufficient for his homeward voyage. Such of the furs as he could not
embark, he fecured in one of his winter huts, and they were found the

following feafon, in the fame ftate in which he left them.

Thefe, however, were but partial advantages, and could not prevent
the people of Canada from feeing the improper conduét of fome of their
affociates, which rendered it dangerous to remain any longer among the
natives, Moft of them who paffed the winter at the Safkatchiwine, got
to the Eagle hills, where, in the fpring of the year 1780, a few days pre-
vious to their intended departure, a large band of Indians being engaged
in drinking about their houfes, one of the traders, to eafe himfelf of the
troublefome importunities of a native, gave him a dofe of laudanum in
a glafs of grog, which effectually prevented him from giving further

trouble to any one, by fetting him afleep for ever. This accident pro-

duced a fray, in which one of the traders, and feveral of the men, were
killed, while the reft had no other means to fave themfelves but by a
precipitate flight, abandoning a coniiderable guantity of goods, and

near