306 AN INDIAN BELLE. 



formed innumerable spikes that pierced like nee- 

 dles; the risk encountered in others, where, black 

 and decayed, it threatened at every step to engulph 

 us ; the anxiety about provision, and the absence 

 of a guide for a considerable part of the way : 

 when these and other difficulties are taken into 

 consideration, it will, perhaps, be conceded that 

 the obstacles must be great which cannot be 

 surmounted by steady perseverance. The Indians 

 who, for hire, afforded us material help, were not 

 more astonished at their own voluntary subjection 

 to our service, than at the sight of a boat, manned 

 with Europeans and stored with provision of the 

 southern country, floating on the clear waters of 

 the barren lands. 



The weather was thick and foggy ; and the 

 picturesque lodges of the natives, constructed in 

 the rudest manner, often of two or three skins 

 thrown over a few short poles or sticks carried 

 for the purpose, extended in the indistinct mist 

 upwards of a quarter of a mile. Groups of 

 dark figures huddled together under these im- 

 perfect coverings — others crowded in front of 

 Mr. JVTLeod's tent, or standing round the poor 

 embers of a fire at which our kettles were doing 

 slow duty, presented, altogether, a striking and 

 interesting spectacle. In the midst of one of 

 these groups was my old acquaintance and 

 Indian belle, who will be remembered by the 



