20 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



attempted to steal some of the delicate morsels strewn 

 around. 



Finding upon inquiry that, in consequence of the 

 lowness of the water, it was very uncertain when the 

 steamer would ari'ive, if she ever reached Georgetown 

 at all, we decided to make the journey to Tort Garry 

 in canoes. The distance is above five hundred miles 

 by the river, which runs through a wild and unsettled 

 country, inhabited only by wandering tribes of Sioux, 

 Chippeways, and Assiniboines. After much bargain- 

 ing, we managed to obtain two birch-bark canoes from 

 some half-breeds. One of them was full of bullet 

 holes, having been formerly the property of some 

 Assiniboines, who were waylaid by a war party of 

 Sioux whilst descending the river the previous 

 summer, and mercilessly shot down from the bank, 

 where their enemies lay in ambush. The other was 

 battered and leaky, and both required a great deal of 

 patching and caulking before they were rendered 

 anything like water-tight. We endeavoured to engage 

 a guide, half-breed or Indian, but none would go with 

 us. The truth Avas that rumours were afloat of the 

 intended outbreak of the Sioux, and these cowards 

 were afraid. One man, indeed — a tall, savage-looking 

 Iroquois, just recovering from the effects of a week's 

 debauch on corn whisky — ex]3ressed his readiness to go 

 with us, but. his demands were so exorbitant, that we 

 refused them at once. We offered him one-half what 

 he had asked, and he went off to consult his squaw, 

 promising to give us an answer next day. 



We did not take very large supplies of provisions 



