NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

where there is any, is a yellow clay mixed with ftones. Thefe huts ap-
pear to have been inhabited during the laft winter; and we had reafon
to think, that fome of the natives had been lately there, as the beach
was covered with the track of their feet. Many of the runners and bars
of their fledges were laid together, near the houfes, in a manner that
feemed to denote the return of the proprietors. There were alfo pieces
of netting made of finews, and fome bark of the willow. The thread of
the former was plaited, and no ordinary portion of time muft have been
employed in manufacturing fo great a length of cord. A fquare fione-
kettle, with a flat bottom, alfo occupied our attention, which was capable
of containing two gallons; and we were puzzled as to the means thefe
people muft have employed to have chifelled it out of a folid rock into
its prefent form. To thefe articles may be added, {mall pieces of flint
fixed into handles of wood, which, probably, ferve as knives; feveral
wooden difhes; the ftern and part of a large canoe; pieces of very thick
feather, which we conjeétured to be the covering of a canoe; feveral
bones of large fifh, and two heads; but we could not determine the ani-
mal to which they belonged, though we conjeClured that it muft be the
fea-horfe.

When we had fatisfied our curiofity we re-embarked, but we were
ata lofs what courfe to fteer, as our guide feemed to be as ignorant of
this country as ourfelves. Though the current was very ftrong, we ap-
peared to have come to the entrance of the lake. ‘The flream fet to the
Weft, and we went with it to an high point, at the diftance of about eight
miles, which we conjeétured to be an ifland; but, on approaching it, we
perceived it to be conneéted with the fhore by alow neck of land. Inow

E2 took

59

1789.
_ gauly.

Ned =,