102 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

a fhould have continued our route along this fide of the river, but we had
t-~-—/ not feen our hunters fince yefterday morning. We accordingly em-
barked before three, and at five traverled the river, when we faw two of

them coming down in fearch of us. They had killed no other animals

than one beaver, and a few hares. According to their account, the

woods were fo thick that it was impoffible to follow the game through

them. They had feen feveral of the natives encampments, at no great

diftance from the river; and it was their opinion that they had difcovered

us in our paflage down it, and had taken care to avoid us; which

accounted for the {mall number we had feen on our return.

I requefted the Englifh chief to return with me to the other fide of the
river, in order that he might proceed to difcover the natives, whofe
tracks and habitations we had feen there; but he was backward in comply-
ing with my defire, and propofed to fend the young men; but I could not.
truft to them, and at the fame time was become rather doubtful of him.
They were full afraid left I fhould obtain fuch accounts of the other river
as would induce me to travel overland to it, and that they fhould be
called upon to accompany me. I was, indeed, informed by one of my
own people, that the Englifh chief, his wives and companions, had deter-
mined to leave me on this fide of the Slave Lake, in order to go to the
country of the Beaver Indians; and that about the middle of the winter
he would return to that lake, where he had appointed to meet fome of

-his relations, who, during the laft {pring, had been engaged in war.

We now traverfed the river, and continued to track the Indians till .

paft twelve, when we loft all traces of them; in confequence, as we ima-

gined,