148 A JOURNEY TO THE 



1771. adopted by all the other Indians of my party ; particularly 



^^' those who had a plurality of wives, and a number of children. 



As these matters took some time to adjust, it was near 



31st. nine o'clock in the evening of the thirty-first before we could 

 set out ; and then it was with much difficulty that Matonabbee 

 could persuade his other wives from following him, with their 

 children and all their lumber ; for such was their unwillingness 

 to be left behind, that he was obliged to use his authority 

 before they would consent, consequently they parted in anger ; 

 and we no sooner began our march, than they set up a most 

 woeful cry, and continued to yell most piteously as long as 

 we were within hearing. This mournful scene had so little 

 effect on my party, that they walked away laughing, and as 

 merry as ever. The few who expressed any regret at their 

 departure from those whom they were to leave behind, [114] 

 confined their regard wholly to their children, particularly to 

 the youngest, scarcely ever mentioning their mother. 



Though it was so late when we left the women, we walked 

 about ten miles that night before we stopped. In our way we 

 saw many deer ; several of which the Indians killed. To talk 

 of travelling and killing deer in the middle of the night, may 

 at first view have the appearance of romance ; but our wonder 

 will speedily abate, when it is considered that we were then to 

 the Northward of 64° of North latitude, and that, in con- 

 sequence of it, though the Sun did not remain the whole night 

 above the horizon, yet the time it remained below it was so short, 

 and its depression even at midnight so small at this season of 

 the year, that the light, in clear weather, was quite sufficient for 

 the purpose both of walking, and hunting any kind of game.^ 

 It should have been observed, that during our stay at 

 Clowey a great number of Indians entered into a combination 



[^ Some of the women and children were thus left on the north side of 

 Peshew, probably Clinton-Colden Lake, and in that case he is correct in saying 

 that they were north of latitude 64°. At the town of Dawson, in the Yukon 

 territory, which is in about the same latitude, there is sufficient light to work 

 and travel at midnight between the loth of May and the ist of August.] 



