66 A JOURNEY TO THE 



1769. This day we had fine pleasant weather for the season of 



December. ^-^^ ^^^^ . ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ j^ ^^^ moming, and arrived the 



same day at Seal River, along which we continued our course 

 for several days. In our way we killed plenty of partridges, 

 and saw many deer ; but the weather was so remarkably serene 

 that the Indians only killed two of the latter. By this time 

 game was become so plentiful, that all apprehensions of starving 

 were laid aside ; and though we were heavily laden, and 

 travelled pretty good days journeys, yet as our spirits were 

 good, our strength gradually returned. 

 5th. In our course down Seal River we met a stranger, a 

 Northern Indian, on a hunting excursion ; and though [8] he 

 had not met with any success that day, yet he kindly invited us 

 to his tent, saying he had plenty of venison at my service ; and 

 told the Southern Indians, that as there were two or three 

 beaver houses near his tent, he should be glad of their assistance 

 in taking them, for there was only one man and three women 

 at the tent. 



Though we were at that time far from being in want of 

 provisions, yet we accepted his offer, and set off with our new 

 guide for his tent, which, by a comparative distance, he told 

 us, was not above five miles from the place where we met him, 

 but we found it to be nearer fifteen ; so that it was the middle 

 of the night before we arrived at it. When we drew near the 

 tent, the usual signal for the approach of strangers was given, 

 by firing a gun or two, which was immediately answered by 

 the man at the tent. On our arrival at the door, the good 

 man of the house came out, shook me by the hand, and 

 welcomed us to his tent ; but as it was too small to contain 

 us all, he ordered his women to assist us in pitching our tent ; 

 and in the mean time invited me and as many of my crew as 

 his little habitation could contain, and regaled us with the best 

 in the house. The pipe went round pretty briskly, and the 

 conversation naturally turned on the treatment we had received 

 from Chawchinahaw and his gang ; which was always answered 



