20 



Journal of a Voyage through the 



CHAPTER III. 



Continue our course. The river narrows. Lost the lead. 

 Passed a small river. Violent rain. Land on a small 

 island. Expect to arrive at the rapids. Conceal two 

 bags of pemican in an island, A view of mountains. 

 Pass several encampments of the natives. Arrive among 

 the islands. Ascend an high hill. Violence of the cur- 

 rent. Lee seen along the banks of the river. Land at a 

 village of the natives. Their conduct and appearance. 

 Their fabulous stories. The English Chief and Lndians 

 discontented. Obtain a new guide. Singular customs of 

 the natives. An account of their dances. Description of 

 their persons, dress, ornaments, buildings, arms for war 

 and hunting, canoes, &c. Passed on among islands. 

 Encamped beneath an hill, and prevented from ascending 

 by the musquitoes. Landed at an encampment. Conduct 

 of the inhabitants. They abound in fabulous accoun ts of 

 dangers. Land at other encampments. Procure plenty 

 of hares and partridges. Our guide anxious to return. 

 Land and alarm the natives, called the Hare Lndians, & c. 

 Exchange our grade. State of the weather. 



July, 1789. ") A r . . _ 



Wednes. 1. 3 past lour in the morning we continued 



our voyage, and in a short time found the river narrowed 



to about half a mile. Our course was Westerly among 



islands, with a strong current. Though the land is high 



on both sides, the banks are not perpendicular. This course 



was twenty-one miles ; and on sounding we found nine 



fathoms water. We then proceeded West-North- West 



nine miles, and passed a river upon the South-East side ; 



we sounded, and found twelve fathoms ; and then we 



went North- W T est by West three miles. Here I lost my 



lead, which had fastened at the bottom, with part of the 



line, the current running so strong that we could not clear 



it with eight paddles, and the strength of the line, which 



was equal to four paddles. Continued North by West 



five miles, and saw an high mountain, bearing South from 



us ; we then proceeded North- West by North four miles. 



We now passed a small river on the North side, then 



doubled a point to West-South- West. At one o'clock 



