NORTHERN OCEAN 273 



situated so far on the barren ground as to be quite out of 1772. 

 the track of any other Indians. From the best accounts that ^ '^"^'^" 

 I could collect, the latitude of this place must be about 63!°, 

 or 63° at least ; the longitude is very uncertain. From my 

 own experience I can affirm, that it is some hundreds of miles 

 both from the sea-side and the main woods to the Westward. 

 Few of the trading Northern Indians have visited this place ; 

 but those who have, give a pleasing description of it, all 

 agreeing that it is situated on the banks of a river which has 

 communication with several fine lakes. As the current sets 

 to the North Eastward, it empties itself, in all probability, 

 into some part of Hudson's Bay ; and, from the latitude, no 

 part seems more likely for this communication, than Baker's 

 Lake, at the head of Chesterfield's inlet. This, however, is 

 mere conjecture ; nor is it of any consequence, as navigation 

 on any of the rivers in those parts is not only impracticable, 

 but would be also unprofitable, as they do not lead into a 

 country that produces any thing for trade, or that contains 

 any inhabitants worth visiting. 



The accounts given of this place, and the manner of life of 

 its inhabitants, would, if related at full length, fill a volume : 

 let it suffice to observe, that the situation [275] is said to 

 be remarkably favourable for every kind of game that the 

 barren ground produces at the different seasons of the year ; 

 but the continuance of the game with them is in general un- 

 certain, except that of fish and partridges. That being the case, 

 the few who compose this little commonwealth, are, by long 

 custom and the constant example of their forefathers, possessed 

 of a provident turn of mind, with a degree of frugality 

 unknown to every other tribe of Indians in this country except 

 the Esquimaux. 



Deer is said to visit this part of the country in astonish- 

 ing numbers, both in Spring and Autumn, of which circum- 

 stances the inhabitants avail themselves, by killing and drying 

 as much of their fiesh as possible, particularly in the fall of 



s 



