NORTHERN OCEAN 203 



all the European goods that had been given to them by the 1771. 

 Governor, As neither Keelshies nor any of his gang had the ^^ ^' 

 courage to kill the Copper Indians, they concerted a deep-laid 

 scheme for their destruction ; which was to leave them on an 

 island. With this view, when they got to the proposed spot, 

 the Northern Indians took care to have all the baggage belong- 

 ing to the Copper Indians ferried across to the main, and 

 having stripped them of such parts of their clothing as they 

 [182] thought worthy their notice, went off with all the canoes, 

 leaving them all behind on the island, where they perished for 

 want. When I was on my journey to the Fort in June one 

 thousand seven hundred and seventy two, I saw the bones of 

 those poor people, and had the foregoing account from my 

 guide Matonabbee ; but it was not made known to the 

 Governor for some years afterward, for fear of prejudicing 

 him against Keelshies. 



A similar circumstance had nearly happened to a Copper 

 Indian who accompanied me to the Fort in one thousand seven 

 hundred and seventy-two : after we were all ferried across 

 Seal River, and the poor man's bundle of furrs on the South- 

 side, he was left alone on the opposite shore ; and no one 

 except Matonabbee would go over for him. The wind at 

 that time blew so hard, that Matonabbee stripped himself 

 quite naked, to be ready for swimming in case the canoe 

 should overset ; but he soon brought the Copper Indian safe 

 over, to the no small mortification of the wretch who had the 

 charge of him, and who would gladly have possessed the bundle 

 of furrs at the expence of the poor man's life. 



When the Northern Indians returned from the Factory that 

 year, the above Copper Indian put himself under the protection 

 of Matonabbee, who accompanied him as far North, as the 

 latitude 64°, where they saw some Copper Indians, among 

 whom was the young man's father, into [183] whose hands 

 Matonabbee delivered him in good health, with all his goods 

 safe, and in good order. 



