98 A JOURNEY TO THE 



1770. left them, they were as clean swept as myself, excepting their 

 ^"^ ' guns, some ammunition, an old hatchet, an ice-chissel, and a 

 file to sharpen them. 



It may probably be thought strange that my guide, who 

 was a Northern Indian, should permit his countrymen to com- 

 mit such outrages on those under his charge ; but being a man 

 of little note, he was so far from being able to protect us, that 

 he was obliged to submit to nearly the same outrage himself. 

 On this occasion he assumed a great air of generosity ; but the 

 fact was, he gave freely what it was not in his power to protect. 

 19th. [50] Early in the morning of the nineteenth, I set out on 

 my return, in company with several Northern Indians, who were 

 bound to the Factory with furrs and other commodities in trade. 

 This morning the Indian who took my gun, returned it to me, 

 it being of no use to him, having no ammunition. The weather 

 for some time proved fine, and deer were very plentiful ; but 

 as the above ravagers had materially lightened my load, by 

 taking everything from me, except the quadrant, books, &c., 

 this part of my journey was the easiest and most pleasant of 

 any I had experienced since my leaving the Fort. In our way 

 we frequently met with other Indians, so that scarcely a day 

 passed without our seeing several smokes made by other 

 strangers. Many of those we met joined our party, having 

 furrs and other commodities for trade. 

 31st, The deer's hair being now of a proper length for clothing, 

 it was necessary, according to the custom, to procure as many 

 of their skins, while in season, as would make a suit of warm 

 clothing for the Winter : and as each grown person requires 

 the prime parts of from eight to eleven of those skins (in pro- 

 portion to their size) to make a complete suit, it must naturally 

 be supposed that this addition to my burden was very consider- 

 able. My load, however cumbersome and heavy, was yet very 

 bearable ; but, after I had carried it several weeks, it proved 

 of no service ; for we had not any women properly belong- 

 ing to our company, consequently had not any [51] person to 



