348 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
Some Account of MatronasBee, and of the eminent 
- Services which he rendered to his Country, as well 
as to the Hudfon’s Bay Company. 
MaTonaBsee was the fon of a Northern Indi- 
an by a flave woman, who was formerly bought 
from fome Southern Indians who came to Prince: 
of Wales’s Fort with furrs, €%c. This match was 
made by Mr. Richard Norton, then Governor, 
who detained them at and near the Fort, for th 
fame purpofe as he did thofe Indians called Homes| 
guard. As to Matonabbee’s real age, it is im-§ 
poflible to be particular; for the natives of thofe] 
parts being utterly unacquainted with letters, on 
the ufe of hieroglyphics, though their memories 
are not lefs retentive than thofe of other nations, 
cannot preferve and tranfmit to pofterity the ex.| 
act time when any particular event happens. In-| 
deed, the utmoft extent of their chronology reach.| 
es no farther, than to fay, My fon, or my daugh 
ter, was born in fuch a Governor’s time, and 
fuch an event happened during fuch a perfon’s 
life-time (though, perhaps, he or fhe has been! 
dead many years). However, according to ap: 
pearance, 2nd fome corroborating circumftances, 
Matonabbee was born about the year one thou- 
fand feven hundred and thirty-fix, or one thou.) 
fand feven hundred and thirty-feven; and his 
father dying while he was young, the cece 
took 
