NORTHERN OCEAN. 
ven hundred and fourteen, purchafed; and a few 
pieces of old iron found at Churchill River, which 
had undoubtedly been left there by Captain 
Monk. This being the cafe, numbers of them 
from all quarters ufed every Summer to refort to 
thefe hills in fearch of copper; of which they made 
hatchets, ice-chiffels, bayonets, knives, awls, ar- 
row-heads, &c.* The many paths that had been 
beaten by the Indians on thefe occafions, and 
which are yet, in many places, very perfect, 
efpecially on the dry ridges and hills, is furprifing; 
in the vallies and marfhy grounds, however, they 
are moftly grown over with herbage, fo as not to 
be difcerned. 
The Copper Indians fet a great value on their 
native metal even to this day; and prefer it to 
iron, for almoft every ufe except that of a hatch- 
Ret, 
* There is a ftrange tradition among thofe people, that the firft perfon 
who difcovered thofe mines was a woman, and that fhe conduéted them to’ 
the place for feveral years; but as fhe was the only woman in company, 
fome of the men took fuch liberties with her as made her vow revenge on 
them; and fhe is faid to have been a great conjurer. Accordingly when 
the men had loaded themfelves with copper, and were going to return, fhe 
refufed to accompany them, and {aid fhe would fiton the mine till fhe fank 
into the ground, and that the copper fhould fink with her. The next 
year, when the men went for more copper, they found her funk up to the 
waift, though flill alive and the quantity of copper much decreafed; and on 
_ their repeating their vifit the year following, fhe had quite difappeared, 
and all the principal part of the mine with her; fo that after that period 
nothing remained on the furface but a few {mall pieces, and thofe were 
feattered at a confiderable diflance from each other. Before that period 
they fay the copper lay on the furface in fuch large heaps, that the Indi- 
ans had nothing to do but turn it over, and pick fuch pieces as would beit 
{uit the different ufes for which they intended it. 
175 
1771. 
en ae 
July. 
