144 EEV. GEO. PATTERSON ON THE BEOTIIIKS 



saw. Mr. Buchau made him a few presents and showed him the articles that were to be 

 taken up. , 



The next morning they set out on their return. The conduct of the Indian continued 

 the same. But on reaching the site of the Indian encampment, to their astonishment 

 they found it deserted. It was evident that the Indians had become alarmed by the 

 return of their three countrymen, who probably told some tale of treachery. As there 

 was no sign of violence, they still hoped for the safety of the marines. The Indian who 

 had accompanied them seemed perplexed at the state of matters. Lieut. Buchan, giving him 

 some presents, desired him to go after his people, trusting that his appearance and recital 

 of the treatment he had received would not only be the means of liberating the men, but 

 also of inducing the natives to return > He, however, refused to leave, and showed every 

 disposition to conciliate his new friends. 



Having left presents for the owners of the different wigwams, and attaching some to 

 a red staff about six feet long, which the Indian had given them to understand belonged 

 to the chief, they set out early the next morning to follow the party. The Indian accom- 

 panied them, sometimes running on before in a zig-zag direction, keeping his eyes to the 

 ice as having a trace to guide him. "When they had gone about two-thirds of a mile from 

 the wigwams, he edged in suddenly, for an instant halted, then took to flight with a 

 rapidity which baffled pursuit. The cause was too soon apparent. The bodies of the two 

 unfortunate marines lay about a hundred yards apart, pierced with arrows in the back, 

 and the heads carried away and no vestige of garments left. 



Mr. Buchau thought it his first duty, instead of following them, to return to secure the 

 safety of the men whom he had left where the goods had been placed. Arriving there, 

 and considering the whole situation, thai any attempt to secure the persons of any would 

 only result in bloodshed, which would frustrate all future efforts at reconciliation, and 

 also that the weather indicated a rapid thaw, which would render travelling by the river 

 impracticable, he resolved to return to the coast. Setting out immediately, the party 

 arrived safely at their vessel on the 30th. 



After the party had recovered from the effects of their first journey, and due prepara- 

 tions having been made, Lieut. Buchan, on the 5th March, set out on a second, with thirty 

 men and provisions for twenty-two days. After starting the weather proved stormy, but 

 on the l-3th they reached the circular store house previously mentioned. They found 

 that the natives had been there since their former journey, they had taken all the prime 

 venison away, and there were indications of their having removed deposits of other 

 articles. What struck him most was that the skin covering of the store on the side front- 

 iu"' the river and the inland side were perforated with many arrows. From this he con- 

 cluded that some of them had taken a station on the bank and had shot their arrows at 

 the store to ascertain whether the white men might not be concealed within it. From 

 the spirit thus manifested and the state of the weather, Lieut. Buchan concluded to 

 abandon any farther pursuit. He accordingly returned to his vessel, and so ended this 

 well-meant attempt to enter into friendly relations with the unfortunate Beothiks.' 



' Full particulars are given in a letter to Lord Liverpool in 1811, most of which appear in the appendix to 

 Mr. Pedley's worlj, p. 482. Lieut. Buchan may in his circumstances be excused for liis course in leaving his men 

 unprotected among them. But in any case it was not to be expected that a people wlio knew the whites only 

 through a century of murder and treachery, should at once have all their suspicions removed. In this case they 

 saw in his party the very men that they knew to be the most active in shooting them, and is it any wonder that 

 they distrusted a party led by such guides ? 



