42 Canadian Record of Science. 



The chiefs were, if possible, in greater fear than the Indians. 

 The Esquimaux paid not the slightest attention to what they 

 said. I had ascertained when too late that they were not of 

 their tribe, but from the westward, being some of the same 

 Esquimaux who wished to pillage the Indians last spring. 

 The chiefs wished to accompany us, but Heft them with the 

 canoes, telling them that these would yet be demanded at 

 their hands. Their reply was a strong regret at what had 

 occurred and that they had done all in their power to pre- 

 vent it. It was plain enough to be seen that the party of 

 western Esquimaux whom the " G-ood Hope " Indians saw 

 last spring, apprized of our intended visit, had returned to 

 their camps and afterwards, with their families and some 

 others, came across land from the westward via Esquimaux 

 Lake, and had accordingly prepared to intercept us. The 

 chiefs informed me that this lake only existed as an inlet of 

 the sea. We were also told that a number of the above 

 people usually pass the winter with the Anderson Kiver 

 Esquimaux. 



In emergencies of this kind, Indians, or at least those of 

 the Hare tribe, who are the most peaceable in the country, 

 are not to be depended upon. One shot fired while we were 

 on the water would have been followed by the sacrifice of 

 the whole party, and on land, excepting the position was 

 really good, they would all have deserted after the first round 

 even if they could have been brought to fire. The crews 

 were good enough while we had to deal with the Esquimaux 

 of Anderson Eiver, who were merely troublesome and 

 somewhat addictel to pilfering; and, as to those lower 

 down, I was loath to resort to extreme measures, as in any 

 event it was impossible to bring back the canoes, and such 

 a proceeding would certainly have been attended with very 

 bad results. It would have put an end to all future prospects 

 of trade, and they are good with the Esquimaux, not only 

 of this river, but with those along the coast, east and west 

 of Liverpool Bay. I therefore conceived it best to act as I 

 did, especially as I could not persuade the Indians to re- 

 main with me. 



