INDIAN CONFIDENCE. 



169 



go, and might return when they had learnt 

 enough. This was a striking instance of the 

 confidence of an Indian, and confirmed the 

 opinion that they would part with their chil- 

 dren to those in whom they thought they could 

 justly confide, and to whose kind tuition they 

 were persuaded they could safely entrust them. 

 The Company's boats were going to York Fac- 

 tory, and would take them there ; where, on 

 my return, I expected to meet my successor 

 as a Minister to the Settlement, on his arrival 

 from England by the ship; and who would take 

 them under his care in continuing the voyage 

 to the school. " Religion, (says Hearne) has 

 not as yet began to dawn among the Northern 

 Indians ; for, though their conjurors do indeed 

 sing songs and make long speeches to some 

 beasts and birds of prey, as also to imaginary 

 beings, which they say assist them in perform- 

 ing cures on the sick, yet they, as well as their 

 credulous neighbours, are utterly destitute of 

 every idea of practical religion." 



The Company's present Establishment is about 

 five miles up the river, from the point of rock at 

 its entrance where the ruins of the old Factory 

 are seen ; which was the point Hearne started 

 from on his journey to the Coppermine River, 

 in the year 1770; and which was blown up by 



