NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA,

our flation near an Indian encampment, and, as we had obferved in
fimilar fituations, pieces of bone, rein-deer’s horn, &c. were fcattered
about it. It alfo appeared, that the natives had been employed here in

working wood into arms, utenfils, &c.

We embarked at three this morning, when the weather was cloudy,
with fmall rain and aft wind. About twelve the raim became fo violent
as to compel us to encamp at two in the afternoon. We faw great num_
bers of fowl, and killed among us fifteen geefe and four {wans. Had
the weather been more favourable, we fhould have added confiderably
to our booty. We now paffed the river, where we expeéted to meet
fome of the natives, but difcovered no figns of them. The ground
_elofe to the river does not rife to any confiderable height, and the hills,
which are at a {mall diftance, are covered with the fpruce fir and {mall

birch trees, to their very fummits,

We embarked at half paft one this morning, when the weather was
cold and unpleafant, and the wind South-Weft. At ten, we left the
channels formed by the iflands for the uninterrupted channel of the river,
where we found the current fo ftrong, that it was abfolately neceflary
to tow the canoe with a line. The land on both fides was elevated, and
almoft perpendicular, and the fhore beneath it, which is of no great
breadth, was covered with a grey flone that falls from the precipice.
We made much greater expedition with the line, than we could have
done with the paddles. The men in the canoe relieved two of thofe on
fhore every two hours, fo that it was very hard and fatiguing duty, but
it faved a great deal of that time which was fo precious tous. At half

patt

Monday 20,

Tuefday 21,