182 Thirty Years 



bank, is the low rocky island which the Esquimaux 

 deserted. We caught forty excellent fish of the sal- 

 mon and white fish sr^ecies in a single net below the 

 rapid. We had not seen any trees during this day's 

 journey ; our fuel consisted of small willows and 

 pieces of dried wood that were picked up near to the 

 encampment. The ground is well clothed with grass, 

 and nourishes most of the shrubs and berry-bearing 

 plants that we have seen north of Fort Enterprize ; 

 and the country altogether has a richer appearance 

 than the barren lands of the Copper Indians. We 

 had a distinct view of the sea from the summit of a 

 hill behind the tents ; it appeared choked with ice 

 and full of islands. 



On the morning of the 16th three men were sent up 

 the river to search for dried wood to make floats for 

 the nets. Adam, the interpreter, was also despatched 

 with a Canadian to inform Akaitcho of the flight of 

 the Esquimaux. We were preparing to go down to 

 tin' sea in one of the canoes, leaving Mr. Back to await 

 the return <»f the men who were absent ; but just as 

 tin- crew woe putting the canoe in the water, Adam 

 arrived in the utmost consternation, and informed US 

 thai m party of Esquimaux were pursuing the men 

 whom he had sent, to colled floats, The orders for 

 embarking were instantly countermanded, and wo 

 wont with a party of men to their rescue We soon 



