442 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
Hudfon’s Bay ; for fome of them frequently kill 
upward of a hundred Geefe in a day, whereas 
the moft expert of the Englifh think it a good 
day’s work to kill thirty. Some years back it 
was common for an Indian to kill from a thoufand 
to twelve hundred Geefe in one feafon ; but lat- 
- terly he isreckoned a good hunter that kills three 
hundred. ‘This is by ro means owing to the de. 
seneracy of the natives ; for the Geefe of late 
years do not frequent thofe parts in fuch num- 
bers as formerly. The general breeding-place 
of this bird is not known to ahy Indian in Hud- 
fon’s Bay, not even to the Efquimaux who fre. 
quent the remoteft North. The general route 
they take in their return to the South in the Fall 
of the year, is equally unknown; for though fuch 
multitudes of them are feen at Churchill River 
in the Spring, and are frequently killed to the 
amount of five or fix thoufand ; yet in the Fall 
of the year, feven or eight hundred is confidered 
a good hunt. At York Fort, though only two 
deerees South of Churchill River, the Geefe fea- 
fons fluctuate fo much, that in fome Springs they 
have falted forty hogfheads, and in others not 
more than one or two: and at Albany Fort, the 
Spring feafon is by no means to be depended on; 
but in the fall they frequently falt fixty hogf- 
heads of Geefe, befides great quantities of Plover. 
The retreat of thofe birds in Winter is equally 
unknown, as that of their breeding-places. I 
obferve in Mr. Pennant’s Arctic Zoology, that 
about 
