116 Mackenzie’s Voyages

Among the people at the post Mackenzie discovered two
Rocky Mountain Indians who informed him that the
natives here who called themselves by that name were not
entitled to it and that they alone were from the Rocky
Mountains. They were familiar with the country adjacent
to those mountains, and with the navigation of the rivers
which emerged from them. They said that the country
from this point to the mountains was similar to that in the im-
mediate vicinity, and that animals were plentiful throughout
the territory, but that the course of the river was interrupted
in the mountains by successive rapids and considerable falls.
But, more important still, these men definitely informed
Mackenzie that there was another great river on the far
side of the mountains which flowed towards the midday
sun, and that the distance across the divide was not great.

From the middle of February to 16 March the hard
frost continued, but on the thirteenth some geese were
seen, which was considered a good omen as these birds were
always looked upon as the harbingers of spring. On the
twenty-second a wolf was so bold as to venture among the
Indian lodges, and was very near carrying off an Indian
child. By 1 April the hunters were able to bring in geese,
and Mackenzie remarks on the earliness of the appearance
of the wild-fowl. The snow had entirely disappeared by
the fifth.

‘“‘At half past four this morning I was awakened to be
informed that an Indian had been killed.’”? Investigation
brought to light the fact that his Indian hunter had murdered
a young native. The former, it appeared, had lent one of his
three wives to the young man three years ago, and had
recently reclaimed her. ‘he young man and woman, how-
ever, continued to meet, which roused the husband to a
state of jealous fury, with the result that he at last mur-