North-West Continent of America, 



53 



the shore beneath it, which is of no great breadth, was 

 covered with a grey stone that falls from the precipice. 

 We made much greater expedition with the line, than we 

 could have done with the paddles. The men in the canoe 

 relieved two of those on shore every two hours, so that it 

 was very hard and fatiguing duty, but it saved a great deal 

 of that time which was so precious to us. At half past eight, 

 we landed at the same spot where we had already encamp- 

 ed on the ninth instant. 



In about an hour after our arrival, we were joined by 

 eleven of the natives, who were stationed further up the 

 river, and there were some among them whom we had 

 not seen during our former visit to this place. The brother 

 of our late guide, however, was of the party, and was 

 eager in his inquiries after him ; but our account did not 

 prove satisfactory. They all gave evident tokens of their 

 suspicion, and each of them made a distinct harangue on 

 the occasion. Our Indians, indeed, did not understand 

 their eloquence, though they conjectured* it to be very un- 

 favourable to our assertions. The brother, nevertheless, 

 proposed to barter his credulity for a small quantity of 

 beads, and promised to believe every thing I should say, 

 if I would gratify him with a few of those baubles : but 

 he did not succeed in his proposition, and I contented 

 myself with giving him the bow and arrows which our 

 conductor had left with us. 



My people were now necessarily engaged in putting the 

 fire-arms in order, after the violent rain of the preceding 

 day ; an employment which very much attracted the curio- 

 sity, and appeared, in some degree, to 'awaken the ap- 

 prehensions of the natives. To their inquiries concern- 

 ing the motives of our preparation, we answered by show- 

 ing a piece of meat and a goose, and informing them, 

 that we were preparing our arms to procure similar pro- 

 visions ; at the same time we assured them, though it was 

 our intention to kill any animals we might find-, there was 

 no intention to hurt or injure them. They, however, en- 

 treated us not to discharge our pieces in their presence. 

 I requested the English Chief to ask them some questions, 

 which they either did or would not understand ; so that I 

 failed in obtaining any information from them. 



All my people went to rest; but I thought it prudent to 

 sit up, in order to watch the motions of the natives. This^ 

 circumstance was a subject of their inquiry ; and their 



