NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA,

The winter had been fo mild, that the fwans had but lately left us, and
at this advanced period there was very little fnow on the ground: it was,
however, at this time a foot anda half in depth, in the environs ofthe
eftablifhment below this, which is at the diftance of about feventy
leagues.

On the 28th the Indians were now employed in making their fnow-
fhoes, as the fnow had not hitherto fallen in fufficient quantity to render
them neceflary.

The weather now became very cold, and it froze fo hard in the night
that my watch flopped; a circumftance that had never happened to this
watch fince my refidence in the country.

There was a lodge of Indians here, who were abfolutely ftarving with
cold and hunger. They had lately loft a near relation, and had, accord-
ing to cuftom, thrown away every thing belonging to them, and even
exchanged the few articles of raiment which they pofleffed, in order, as I
prefume, to get rid of every thing that may bring the deceafed to their re-
membrance. They alfo deftroy every thing belonging to any deceafed
perfon, except what they confign to the grave with the late owner of
them. We had fome difficulty to make them comprehend that the debts
of aman who dies fhould be difcharged, if he left any furs behind him:
but thofe who underftand this principle of juftice, and profefs to adhere
to it, never fail to prevent the appearance of any {kins beyond fuch as
may be neceflary to fatisfy the debts of their dead relation,

On the 8th I had an obfervation for the longitude. In the courfe of
this

February 2,