NORTHERN OCEAN. 
130 
about eleven miles to the North Weft; when 1771, 
perceiving bad weather at hand, we began to eg 
look out for fhelter among the rocks, as we had 
done the four preceding nights, having neither 
tents nor tentpoles with us. The next morning 
fifteen more of the Indians deferted us, being 
quite fick of the road, and the uncommon bad- 
nefs of the weather. Indeed, though thefe peo- 
ple are all inured to hardfhips, yet their com- 
plaint on the prefent occafion was not without 
reafon ; for, from our leaving Congecathawhac- 
haga we had fcarcely a dry garment of any kind, 
or any thing to fkreen us from the inclemency of 
the weather, except rocks and caves; the beft of 
which were but damp and unwholefoime lodg- 
ing. In fome the water was conftantly dropping 
from the rock that formed the roof, which made 
our place of retreat little better than the open 
air; and we had not been able to make one {park 
of fire (except what was fufficient to light a pipe) 
from the time of our leaving the women on the 
fecond inftant; it is true, in fome places there 
was a little mofs, but the conftant fleet and rain 
made it fo wet, as to render it as impoflible to fet 
fire to it as it would be to a wet fpunge. 
We had no fooner entered our places of retreat 
than we regaled ourfelves with fome raw venifon 
which the Indians had killed that morning; 
the fmall ftock of dried provifions we took 
with us when we left the women being now all 
expended, 
Agreeably 
ly. 
