AND SPECULATIONS ON THE CAUSE. 359 



"Inconnu" River, respecting whose distance and 

 direction from our position they had, strange to say, 

 more than once inquired, and which stream one of 

 them had frequently hunted upon and knew very 

 well. There were many arguments both for and 

 against this view : their evident fears — their sudden 

 departure, and their having full horns of powder on 

 the one side : on the other, the improbability of their 

 quitting us in an unknown position, and the facts, 

 still more significant, that they had taken with them 

 neither extra mocassins nor a large store of tobacco, 

 and an Indian never likes to undertake a journey 

 unprovided in these respects. 



Another conjecture was started, but we could not 

 bear to entertain it long. It was, that the poor 

 fellows had been followed by some among the Esqui- 

 maux, waylaid and assassinated ; but, independently 

 of the distressing natme of this idea, it did not bear 

 the stamp of probability, as the Esquimaux had never 

 swerved from their friendly demonstrations to all, 

 nor evinced the slightest dislike to the Indians espe- 

 cially; indeed, I much doubt whether they were 

 acquainted, except by vague rumour, with the enmity 

 existing between the Indians and those of their own 

 tribe frequenting the mouth of the Mackenzie, and 

 probably did not even know that our wanderers 



