In the An tic //< gions. 119 



of one thousand three hundred yards ovct a rocky hill, 

 which received th<' name of the Bowstring Portage, 

 fromi We found that the Indians had g 



ly the advantage of us in this operation ; the men 

 carried their small canoes, the women and children 

 the clothes and provisions, and at the end of th 

 tage they were ready to embark ; whilst it was i 

 sary for our people to return four times, before they 

 could transport the weighty cargo with which we 

 burthened. After passing through another expansion 

 of the river, and over the steep portage of one hun- 

 dred and fifteen yards, we encamped on a small rocky 

 isle, just I ngh to hold our party, and the In- 



dians took possession of an adjoining rock. We were 

 imw distant thirty miles from Fort Providence. 



A< Boon as the tents were pitched, the officers and 

 men were divided into watches for the night ; a pre- 

 caution intended to be taken throughout the journey, 

 not merely to prevent our being surprised by strangers, 

 but also to show our companions thai we were con- 

 stantly on our guard. The chief, who Buffered noth- 

 cape his observation, remarked, " that he 

 should Bleep without anxiety among the Esquimaux, 

 for he perceivi d no i nemy < ould surprise m 



After supper we retired to rest, hut our Bleep was 

 soon interrupted by the Indians joining in loud lamen- 

 tations over a sick child, whom they supposed to be 



