224 Hijîorical Journal of 



grows in fome Places very fine Capillaire, (Maiden Hair), 1 was 

 two Days making this Way, but the Night of the firft was very 

 near putting an End to my Journey. I was taken for a Bear^ 

 and I was within a Hair's Breadth of being killed under this De- 

 nomination, by one of my Canoe Men in the following Manner. 



After Supper and Prayer, as it was Very hot, I went to take a 

 Walk, keeping always by the Side of the River. A Spaniel 

 that followed me every where, took a Fancy to jump into the 

 River, to fetch I know not what, which I had thrown in with- 

 out Thought. My People, who thought I was gone to Reft, 

 efpecially as it was late, and the Night dark, hearing the Noife 

 this Creature made, thought it v/as a Roe-Buck that was croffing 

 the River ; and two of them immediately fet out with their 

 Guns charged. Luckily for me, one of the two, who was a 

 blunderinrg Fellow, was called back by the reil, for Fear he 

 fhould occafion the Lofs of their Game ; otherwife it might 

 have happened, that by his blundering I fliould have been fhot. 



The other advancing flowly, perceived me about twenty 

 Paces from him, and made no Doubt that it was a Bear Handing 

 upon his hind Feet, as thefe Animals always do when they hear 

 a Noife. At this Sight he cocks his Gun, which he had loaded 

 with three Balls ; and crouching down almoil to the Ground, 

 made his Approaches as filently as poiTible. He was going to 

 fire, v/hen on my Side I thought I faw fomething, without be- 

 ing able to diilinguilh what it was ; but as I could not doubt but 

 that it was one of my People, I thought proper to afk him if by 

 Chance he did not take me for a Bear : He made me no An- 

 fwer, and when I came up to him, I found him like one Thun- 

 der-ftruck, and as it were feized with Horror at the Blow hé 

 was juft going to give. It was his Comrades who told me what 

 had paiîed. 



The River St, Jofeph is fo convenient for the Trade of al! 

 Parts of Canada, that it is no Wonder it has always been much 

 frequented by the Savages. Furthermore, it waters avery fertile 

 Country : But this is not what thefe People value moil: . It 

 is even a great Lofs to give them good Lands : Either they 

 make no Ufe of them, or they foon make them poor by fowing 

 their Maiz. 



The Mafcoutins had, not long fince, a Settlement on this Ri« 

 ver ; but they are returned to their own Country, which is, as 

 they fay, Hill finer. The Pouteouatamies have fuccefiively occu- 

 pied here' feveral Pofts, and rem.ain here Hill. Thefr Village is 

 on the fame Side as the Fort, a little lower, and on a very fine 

 Spot. The Viilacre of the Miamies is on the other Side of the 

 River. ^ 



the 



