NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA. 73
queftions, which they either did not or would not underftand; fo that I qn
failed in obtaining any information from them. Same. Tad

All my people went to reft; but I thought it prudent to fit up, in
order to watch the motions of the natives. This circumftance was a
fubjeé& of their inquiry ; and their curiofity was {till more excited, when
they faw me employed in writing. About twelve o'clock I perceived
four of their women coming along the fhore; and they were no fooner
feen by their friends, than they ran haflily to meet them, and perfuaded
two of them, who, I fuppofe, were young, to réturn, while they
brought the other two who were very old, to enjoy the warmth of
our fire; but, after ftaying there for about half an hour, they alfo re-
treated. Thofé who remained, immediately kindled a fmall fre,
and laid themfelves down to fleep round it, like fo many whelps,
having ‘neither {kins or garments of any kind to cover them,
notwithflanding the cold that prevailed. My people having placed
their kettle of meat on the fire, I was obliged to guard it from the natives,
who made feveral attempts to poffefs themfelves of its contents ; and this
was the only inftance I had hitherto difcovered, of their being influenced
by a pilfering difpofition. It might, perhaps, be a general opinion, that
provifions were a common property. I now faw the fun fet for the firlt
time fince I had been here before. During the preceding night, the

weather was fo cloudy, that I could not obferve its defcent to the horizon.
The water had funk, at this place, upward of three feet fince we had
paffed down the river.

We began our march at half paft three this morning, the men being Wednel. s2.

L employed