78 Thirty Years 
Pembina River, which comes from the southward, 
where we found traces of Indians, who appeared to 
have quitted this station the day before ; we had, 
therefore, the benefit of a good track, which our dogs 
much required, as they were greatly fatigued, by hav- 
ing dragged their loads through very deep snow for 
the last two days. A moose deer crossed the river 
just before the party: this animal is plentiful in the 
vicinity. We encamped in a pleasant, well sheltered 
place, having traveled fourteen miles. 
We had made but a short distance the following 
morning, when we came to some Indian lodges, which 
belonged to an old Chipewyan chief, named the Sun, 
and his family, consisting of five hunters, their wives, 
and children. They were delighted to see us, and 
when the object of our expedition had been explained 
to them, expressed themselves much interested in our 
progress ; but they could give no particle of informa- 
tion respecting the countries beyond the Athabasca 
Lake. We smoked with them, and gave each person 
a glass of mixed spirits and some tobacco. We learn- 
ed from a Canadian servant of the North-West Com- 
pany, who was residing with them, that this family 
had lost numerous relatives, and that the destruction 
of property, which bad been made after their deaths, 
was the only cause for the pitiable condition in which 
we saw them, He said the whole were industrious 
