PHOTO BY A. I. STONE. 



A TRIBUTARY OF THE DEASE RIVER. 



Arriving at the Indian settlement we 

 anchored our " ship " in the mouth of a 

 sluggish tributary, safe from the drift wood 

 which was still running; climbed the high 

 bank, and shook hands all round in silence. 

 The Indians had been notified in advance 

 of our coming, by an agent of the Hudson 

 Bay Company, who had bespoken their 

 friendly aid in our behalf. Our interpreter, 

 therefore, had only to inform them that I 

 was the man whom they were expecting, to 

 secure their prompt assistance. 



One of them handed me a note left by this 

 agent, assuring me that I should find what I 

 was in search of. and that the Indians would 

 give me all necessary information as to their 

 country and hunting grounds. 



One of them brought from his cabin an 

 old coat made from the skin of the white 

 sheep; and now the last lingering fear of 

 disappointment vanished. I bought the coat 

 at once. 



I had been warned to use every effort to 

 put our supplies in a safe place while we were 

 away in the mountains, as. while these people 

 were entirely friendly, yet a hungry Indian 

 is an untrustworthy neighbor. These were 

 hungry, therefore, not to be trusted. Liv- 

 ing in a country abounding in moose, they 

 had no meat. They had no tea. no tobacco. 

 Their only food consisted of a few worth- 

 less fish taken from the Liard — " Suckers 

 and Jack-fish." They begged hard for tea 



and tobacco, and stood in ranks 3 or 4 deep 

 gazing at us while we ate our supper. This 

 was trying, so after we had eaten I told 

 them to heat several kettles of water into 

 which I put tea, greatly to their delight. I 

 then engaged a young man to go with us. 



Next day we built a strong log cache into 

 which we put our supplies, as we told the 

 Indians, to keep them safe from dogs. Se- 

 lecting one of the natives with a fairly good 

 face I appointed him to guard our cache 

 during our absence, procured a birch bark 

 canoe, distributed some more tea. and made 

 ready for the mountains. We were off at 4 

 next morning. 



Paddling back up river for 15 miles we 

 landed and night found us camped on a dry 

 knoll of black pine far on our way over the 

 Musky which must be crossed 01 route to 

 the foot-hills. Xext day we struck into the 

 mountains, following Old Skow river, carry- 

 ing about 45 pounds each. Our route led 

 us up a difficult canyon, but at night we 

 camped near the last growth of balsam, hav- 

 ing, already discovered signs of white sheep. 

 Tracks were not fresh, but not more than 3 

 days old. Several days passed without re- 

 sult^ beyond wearing out our" shoes. It be- 

 gan to look blue, and the food question was 

 becoming urgent. Finally, one evening after 

 we had come into camp unsuccessful, as 

 usual, the young Indian, to whom I had 

 given a rifle, anxious to try his weapon 



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