18 APPENDIX, NO. I. 



treated; we afterwards saw them t.t times at a good distance 

 before us ; the tracks shewed that they had shoes on ; this 

 caused considerable perplexity; the. guides, and indeed all 

 the party, were of opinion that the Indians had been to the 

 sledges, and that those two were returning down the river to 

 draw us into a trammel, for they supposed a body of them 

 to be conveniently posted to take advantage of us in some dif- 

 ficult pass. These conjectures were probable ; they strongly 

 urged my taking to the woods, as being more safe ; although 

 this was certainly true, it would have been attended with 

 great loss of time, as from the depth and softness of the snow, 

 we could not possibly perform it vuider two days; but as the 

 immediate joining my people was paramount to every other 

 consideration, for our conjectures might be erroneous, and as 

 I was, in this instance, fain to suspect that curiosity had pre- 

 dominated over the obligations of duty, and that want of 

 consideration had led our men up to view the pond, I 

 therefore continued on by the river side. At noon we ar- 

 rived at the fire-place, and finding all well I experienced 

 great relief after four hours spent in unutterable anxiety for 

 their fate. The two men who had acted so imprudently 

 were easily discovered by the sweat which still rolled down 

 their faces. Being made acquainted with the uneasiness 

 they had occasioned, contrition for their misconduct wag 

 manifest, and I was willing to overlook it. Nothing now 

 remained for us but to make the best of our way down the 

 river ; especially as a thaw had set in and the ice of the river 

 Was speedily breaking up. We therefore set forward, and 

 after a most painful journey of four days, chiefly through 

 soft snow or water, succeeded in reaching the Adonis on the 

 30th January. 



It will not be expected that I can give much information 

 respecting the Indians of Newfoundland. Of a people so 

 little known, or rather not known at all, any account, how- 

 ever imperfect, must be interesting. It appears then that 

 they are permanent inhabitants, and not occasional visitors. 



