230 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ VoL. PPR: 
French gentleman) a few barrels of flour, for which they returned us 
thanks, and told us with all the rhetoric they were masters of, that all the 
Indians around were in league to take up the hatchet against the Eng- 
lish; that they knew we were coming that way, and were waiting six 
miles up the river to seize and destroy us; and that if we proceeded any 
further we should certainly be cut to pieces. They begged us with tears 
in their eyes for God’s sake to return, and by reason of the winds and the 
strong current of the river we might gain the fort before they could per- 
ceive we had discovered their intentions. This was friendly advice given 
by people who showed in their countenances that they had our safety at 
heart; and had we followed their counsel many would have saved their 
lives on this occasion, and others avoided a long and dangerous captivity. 
Captain Robson partly doubted the truth of what the Canadians had 
told us, partly through mistaken confidence that they would not dare to: 
attack us until cover of the night ; and it being then noon, thought that 
he might go on six miles further and sound about the mouth of the river 
Huron; which done his work would be finished, and then return to the 
fort. He therefore ordered the rowers to ply their oars, and without 
seeming to suspect any danger, proceeded until we came within six miles. 
of the above river, where there was a small Indian village, the very place 
the Canadians told us we would be attacked by the savages. Then it 
was, though alas! too late, that Captain Robson discovered the truth of 
the information we had got, for the whole bank of the river was covered 
with Indians, to the amount of three or four hundred men. Sir Robert 
Davies was at this time considerably before in his canoe, on shore, and. 
smoked a pipe of friendship (as they called it) with some of their chiefs 
till we came up. He advised us to row on and pass him, and not to seem 
to suspect that they had a design upon us. Here I must observe that the 
river turned narrow, and was so rapid that we were obliged to keep the 
boat close to the shore, and even then the Indians could walk faster than 
we could row. To have attempted to return would have been inevitable 
destruction to us all. Besides that they had all their canoes ready to 
pursue us. This we were sensible of, so we kept rowing on and 
humoured them as much as possible. They crowded round us, men, 
women, and children, giving us the friendly appellation of brothers, told 
us they were glad to see us, and begged that we should come on shore 
and we would have whatever was good; the squaws or Indian women 
showing us maple sugar, fish, etc., to induce us to land. We did not, how- 
ever, choose to accept of their invitation or presents. They asked for 
some bread and tobacco, which we gave them. This was only to take up 
our attention, for all the while they were filing off by degrees, till at last 
there was not an Indian to be seen. The squaws were collected so 
a ane Ee 
