196 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
Hudson’s Bay House by six P.M. We were 
received in the most friendly manner by Mr. 
Clark, and honoured by volleys of musketry on 
our arrival. Similar marks of attention were 
shewn to us on the following day by Mr. Bethune, 
the partner in charge of the North-West Com- 
pany’s Fort, I found here the letters which I had 
addressed from Cumberland, in November last, 
to the partners of the North-West Company, in 
the Athabasca. This circumstance convinced 
me of the necessity of our present journey. 
These establishments are situated on the 
southern side of the lake, and close to each other. 
They are forts of considerable importance, being 
Placed at a point of communication with the 
English River, the Athabasca, and Columbia 
Districts. The country around them is low, and 
intersected with water, and was formerly much 
frequented by beavers and otters, which, how- 
ever, have been so much hunted by the Indians, 
that their number is greatly decreased. The 
Indians frequenting these forts are the Crees 
and some Chipewyans ; they scarcely ever come 
except in the spring and autumn: in the former 
Season to bring their winter’s collection of furs, 
and in the latter to get the stores they require. 
Three Chipewyan lads came in during our 
Stay, to report what furs the band to which they 
