NORTHERX OCEAN 101 



Indian style, where there was plenty of good eating, and the 1770. 

 whole concluded with singing and dancing, after the Southern ^ ° ^^' 

 Indian style and manner. In this amusement my home-guard 

 Indians bore no inconsiderable part, as they were both men 

 of some [54] consequence when at home, and well known 

 to Matonabbee : but among the other Northern Indians, to 

 whom they were not known, they were held in no estimation ; 

 which indeed is not to be wondered at, when we consider 

 that the value of a man among those people, is always 

 proportioned to his abilities in hunting ; and as my two 

 Indians had not exhibited any great talents that way, the 

 Northern Indians shewed them as much respect as they do 

 in common to those of very moderate talents among them- 

 selves. 



During my conversation with this Leader, he asked me 

 very seriously. If I would attempt another journey for the 

 discovery of the Copper-mines ? And on my answering in 

 the affirmative, provided I could get better guides than 

 I had hitherto been furnished with, he said he would readily 

 engage in that service, provided the Governor at the Fort 

 would employ him. In answer to this, I assured him his 

 offer would be gladly accepted ; and as I had already ex- 

 perienced every hardship that was likely to accompany any 

 future trial, I was determined to complete the discovery, even 

 at the risque of life itself. Matonabbee assured me, that 

 by the accounts received from his own countrymen, the 

 Southern Indians, and myself, it was very probable I might 

 not experience so much hardship during the whole journey, 

 as I had already felt, though scarcely advanced one third part 

 of the journey. 



[55] He attributed all our misfortunes to the misconduct 

 of my guides, and the very plan we pursued, by the desire 

 of the Governor, in not taking any women with us on this 

 journey, was, he said, the principal thing that occasioned 

 all our wants : " for, said he, when all the men are heavy 



