NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

ued, and in whofe vicinity fome of their people were employed in

1789.
July.

43

fetting {nares for rein deer. They engaged to go for their articles ~-~—~

of trade, and would wait our return, which we affured them would be
within two months. There wasa youth among them in the capacity
of a flave, whom our Indians underftood much better than any of the
natives of this country, whom they had yet feen: he was invited to
accompany us, but took the firft opportunity to conceal himfelf, and

we faw him no more... © >

_ We now fteered Weft five miles, when we again landed, and found
two families, containing feven people, but had reafon to believe that
there were others hidden in the woods. We received from them two
dozen of hares, and they were about. to boil two more, which they
alfo gave us. We were not ungrateful for their kindnefs, and left
them. Our courfe was now North-Weft four miles, and at nine we
landed and pitched our tents, when one of our people killed a grey
crane. Our condu€tor renewed his complaints, not, as he affured us,
from any apprehenfion of our ill-treatment, but of the Efquimaux, whom
he reprefented as a very wicked and malignant people; who would put
us all to death. He added, alfo, that it was but two fummers fince a
large party of them came. up this river, and killed many of his relations.
Two Indians followed us from the laft lodges.

~ At half paft two in the morning we embarked, and fteered a Wefterly Wednef. 8.

courfe, and foon after put afhore at two lodges-of nine Indians. We

made them a few trifling prefents, but without difembarking, and had

proceeded but a fall diflance from thence, when we obferved feveral
G 2 {mokes