- NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA. 56

The Indians were of a different opmion, as they entertained no expeéc- 178s.
tation of returning that feafon, when the hidden provifions would be —~—"

fpoiled. Near us were two Indian encampments of the laft year. By

the manner in which thefe people cut their wood, it appears that they

have no iron tools. The current was very flrong during the’ whole of

this day’s voyage; and in the article of provifions two fwans were all

that the hunters were able to procure.

The morning was very foggy; but at half paft five we embarked; it Thurfday 2.
cleared up, however, at feven, when we difcovered that the water, from
being very limpid and clear, was become dark and muddy. ‘This alter-
ation muft have proceeded from the influx of fome river to the South-
ward, but where thefe ftreams firft blended their waters the fog had
prevented us from obferving, At nine we perceived a very high moun-
tain a-head, which appeared, on our nearer approach, to be rather a
clufier of mountains, flretching as far as our view could reach to the
Southward, and whofe tops were loft in the clouds. At noon there was
lightning, thunder, and rain, and at one, we came abreaft of the moun-
tains: their fummits appeared to be barren and rocky, but their declivi-
ties were covered with wood: they appeared alfo to be fprinkled with
white ftones, which gliftened in the fun, and were called by the Indians
manetoe afeniah, or fpirit ftones. I fufpeéted that they were Talc, though
they poffeffed a more brilliant whitenefs: on our return, however, thefe

appearances were diffolved, as they were nothing more than patches of

fnow.

Our courfe had been Weft-South-Weft thirty miles, and we pro-
ceeded