54 Journal of a Voyage through the 



curiosity was still more excited, when they saw me em* 

 ployed in writing. About twelve o'clock I perceived four 

 of their women coming along the shore ; and they were 

 no sooner seen by their friends, than they ran hastily to 

 meet them, and persuaded two of them, who, I suppose, 

 were young, to return, while they brought the other two 

 who were very old, to enjoy the warmth of our fire ; but, 

 after staying there for about half an hour, they also re- 

 treated. Those who remained, immediately kindled a 

 small fire, and laid themselves down to sleep round it, 

 like so many whelps, having neither skins or garments of 

 any kind to cover them, notwithstanding the cold that pre- 

 vailed. My people having placed their kettle of meat on 

 the fire, I was obliged to guard it from the natives, who 

 made several attempts to possess themselves of its con- 

 tents ; and this was the only instance I had hitherto dis- 

 covered, of their being influenced by a pilfering disposi- 

 tion. It might, perhaps, be a general opinion, that pro- 

 visions were a common property. I now saw the sun set 

 for the first time since I had been here before. During 

 the preceding night, the weather was so cloudy, that I 

 could not observe its descent to the horizon. The water 

 had sunk, at this place, upwards of three feet since we 

 had passed down the river. 



Wednesday 22. We began our march at half past three 

 this morning, the men being employed to tow the canoe* 

 I walked with the Indians to their huts, which were at a 

 greater distance than I had any reason to expect, for it 

 occupied three hours in hard walking to reach them. We 

 passed a narrow and deep river in our way, at the mouth 

 of which the natives had set their nets. They had hid 

 their effects, and sent their young women into the woods, 

 as we saw but very few of the former, and none of the 

 latter. They had large huts built with drift-wood on the 

 declivity of the beach, and in the inside the earth was dug 

 away, so as to form a level floor. Attach end was a stout 

 fork, whereon was laid a strong ridge-pole, which formed 

 a support to the whole structure, and a covering of spruce 

 bark preserved it from the rain. Various spars of dif- 

 ferent heights were fixed within the hut, and covered with 

 split fish that hung on them to dry: and fires were made 

 in different parts to accelerate the operation. There were 

 rails also on the outside of the building, which were hung 

 around with fish, but in a fresher state than those within. 



