NORTHERN OCEAN 271 



Indians ; but being informed by my companions, that there 1772. 

 was not the least probability of meeting any, he did not think ^ ^*'^' 

 it worth any farther carriage. The tobacco was indeed very 

 acceptable, as our stock of that article had been expended 

 some time. Having been so long without tasting spirituous 

 liquors, I would not partake of the brandy, but left it entirely 

 to the Indians, to whom, as they were numerous, it was 

 scarcely a taste for each. Few of the Northern Indians are 

 fond of spirits, especially those who keep at a distance from 

 the Fort : some who are near, and who usually shoot geese 

 for us in the Spring, will drink it at free cost as fast as the 

 Southern Indians, but few of them are ever so imprudent as 

 to buy it. 



The little river lately mentioned, as well as the adjacent 

 lakes and ponds, being well-stocked with beaver, and the land 

 abounding with moose and buffalo, we were induced to make 

 but slow progress in our journey. Many days were spent in 

 hunting, feasting, and drying a large quantity of flesh to take 

 with us, particularly that of the buffalo ; for my companions 

 knew by experience, that a few days walk to the Eastward of 

 our present situation would bring us to a part where we 

 should not see any of those animals. 



The strangers who had joined us on the twenty-fourth 

 informed us, that all were well at Prince of Wales's Fort 

 [273] when they left it last ; which, according to their account 

 of the Moons past since, must have been about the fifth of 

 November one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one. 

 These strangers only remained in our company one night 

 before the Leader and part of his crew left us, and proceeded 

 on their journey to the North Westward ; but a few of 

 them having procured some furrs in the early part of the 

 Winter, joined our party, with an intent to accompany us 

 to the Factory. 



Having a good stock of dried meat, fat, &c. prepared in 

 the best manner for carriage, on the twenty-eighth we shaped 2Sth. 



