76 FOllT CONFIDENCE. 



and solicitude. Instances of desertion, which have 

 undoubtedly occurred, are to be ascribed to the 

 pressure of famine, which has urged the able- 

 bodied to hurry on in quest of relief, disregarding 

 those who were unable to keep up with the line 

 of march. 



Our intercourse with the Indians continued 

 throughout the winter in the way that has been 

 stated. The more industrious among them resorted 

 to good hunting stations, generally in parties of 

 two or three families together, and also in two 

 more numerous bands, under the direction of two 

 chiefs. Most of them resorted to the confines of 

 M'Tavish's Bay, where the animals are plentiful in 

 winter. From them we received occasional sup- 

 plies of venison, and two or four of our men were 

 employed for a considerable part of the winter in 

 bringing it in with the dog-sledges. From two 

 steady old men, who had been furnished with nets, 

 we purchased some hundreds of fine trout, together 

 with a quantity of white-fish and freshwater 

 herrings. Some of the Martin Lake Dog-ribs also, 

 though not fitted out by us with ammunition, 

 found it convenient to bring their meat to Fort 

 Confidence, instead of going to Fort Simpson. 

 In this way we obtained more than we required 

 for our present and future wants, including the 

 eleemosynary demands of the Indians, which were, 



