78 Thirty Years 



Pembina River, which comes from the southward, 

 where we found traces of Indians, who appeared to 

 have quitted this station the day before ; we had, 

 therefore, the benefit of a good track, which our dogs 

 much required, as they were greatly fatigued, by hav- 

 ing dragged their loads through very deep snow for 

 the last two days. A moose deer crossed the river 

 just before the party : this animal is plentiful in the 

 vicinity. We encamped in a pleasant, well sheltered 

 place, having traveled fourteen miles. 



We had made but a short distance the following 

 morning, when we came to some Indian lodges, which 

 belonged to an old Chipewyan chief, named the Sun, 

 and his family, consisting of five hunters, their wives, 

 and children. They were delighted to see us, and 

 when the object of our expedition had been explained 

 to them, expressed themselves much interested in our 

 progress ; but they could give no particle of informa- 

 tion respecting the countries beyond the Athabasca 

 Lake. We. smoked with them, and gave each person 

 a glass of mixed spirits and some tobacco. We learn- 

 ed from a Canadian servant of the North- West Com- 

 pany, who was residing with them, that this family 

 hud losl QUmerOUS relatives, and that, the destruction 

 of property, which had been made after their deaths, 

 was the only cause for the pitiable condition in which 

 iw them. He said the whole were industrious 



