180 A TRIP UP THE RIVER. 



not exceed a well ordered regiment, and doubtless one-half of these 

 only could be relied on to fight, even should any real difficulty 

 arise, which is not likely to happen at any time in a country at once 

 so cold and so remote from human habitation generally. They 

 have enough sense to see that it is for their own interest to keep on 

 good terms with their white neighbors, — for who would purchase 

 their furs if they did not do so? Strangely enough, an Indian 

 will purchase anything that, setting his eyes upon, he desires, pro- 

 vided it come within the reach of his means, or that his credit allows ; 

 it may be a shotgun worth a hundred dollars, a boat worth twice 

 that amount, or a solid and expensive gold watch, — and cases of the 

 latter kind have occurred frequently. I have in mind one where 

 an Indian ordered and obtained a valuable gold watch and chain 

 worth about $150.00 ; he used them for awhile, and then exchanged 

 it about a month after for a $3.00 silver one that, at the time, equally 

 pleased his fancy. Nor is this either an extravagant or an ex- 

 ceptional instance on record of like stupidity. 



In the afternoon of the same day, Thursday the loth, I took a 

 guide and went several miles farther up the river. It was a most 

 pleasant and delightful walk. We followed a winding path, or 

 portage, over a series of hills and vales ; the deep snow on which 

 we walked nearly covering a small growth of firs and spruces, pro- 

 bably six to eight feet high — the path lying over these. On the 

 distant left rocky knobs and crests, with rounded tops, were 

 everywhere apparent, while, on the right, high cliffs bordered 

 the river. 



We were now in the valley of the narrow river. High hills were 

 on either side ; beyond and ahead, uprearing tier upon tier, dark 

 blue and long, uneven ridges of crests had been upheaved by nature 

 towards the light blue sky above. The river, bending to the left, 

 seemed to lose itself in the distance among the bases of one or two 

 bold cliffs which appeared to bar its passage. It was a grand scene : 

 the passive river, bound in ice and crowned with snow. At this 

 point the stream is nearly a mile and a half wide. About the same 



