NORTHERN OCEAN. 
&\N my arrival at the Fort, I informed the Go- 
vernor, of Matonabbee’s being fo near. On 
_ the twenty-eighth of November he arrived. Not- 
withftanding the many difficulties and hardfhips 
which I had undergone during my two unfuc- 
cefsful attempts, I was fo far from being folicited 
on this occafion to undertake a third excurfion, 
that I willingly offered my fervice; which was 
readily accepted, as my abilities and approved 
courage, in perfevering under difficulties, were 
thought noways inferior to the tafk. 
I then determined to engage Matonabbee to be 
my guide; to which he readily confented, and 
with a freedom of fpeech and correétnefs of lan- 
guage not commonly met with among Indians, 
not only pointed out the reafons which had oc- 
cafioned all our misfortunes in my two former 
attempts, but defcribed the plan he intended.to 
purfue ; which at the fame time that it was high- 
ly fatisfactory to me, did honour to his penetra- 
tion and judgment; as it proved him to bea man 
of extenfive obfervation with refpect to times, fea- 
fons, and places; and well qualified to explain 
every thing that could contribute either to facili- 
tate or retard the eafe or progrefs of travelling in 
thofe dreary parts of the world. 
Having engaged Matonabbee, therefore, as my 
guide, I began to make preparations for our de- 
parture; but Mr. Norton, the Governor, having 
been very fully occupied in treding with a large 
body of Indians, it was the feventh of December 
before 
61 
1770. 
wynd 
November. 
28th, 
December. 
4th, 
