North-West Continent of America. 59 



He said his heart was set against those slaves ; and com- 

 plained aloud of his disappointment in coming so far 

 without seeing the natives, and getting something from 

 them. 



We employed the sail and the paddle since ten this 

 morning, and pitched our tents at seven in the evening. 

 We had no sooner encamped than we were visited by an 

 Indian whom We had seen before, and whose family was at 

 a small distance up the river : at nine he left us. The 

 weather was clear and serene. 



Saturday 25. We embarked this morning at a quarter 

 past three, and at seven we passed the lodge of the Indian 

 who had visited us the preceding evening. There appeared 

 to have been more than one family, and we naturally con- 

 cluded that our visitor had made such an unfavourable re- 

 port of us, as to induce his companions to fly on our ap- 

 proach. Their fire was not extinguished, and they had 

 left a considerable quantity of fish scattered about their 

 dwelling. 



The weather was now very sultry ; but the current had 

 relaxed of its force, so that the paddle was sufficient for 

 our progress during the greatest part of the day. The 

 inland part of the country is mountainous, and the banks 

 of the river low, but covered with wood, among which is 

 the poplar, but of small growth, and the first which we had 

 seen on our return. A pigeon also flew by us, and hares 

 appeared to be in great plenty. We passed many Indian 

 encampments which we did not see in our passage down 

 the river. About seven the sky, to the Westward, became 

 of a steel-blue colour, with lightning and thunder. We 

 accordingly landed to prepare ourselves against the coming 

 storm ; but before we could erect our tents, it came on 

 with such violence, that we expected it to carry every 

 thing before it. The ridge-pole of my tent was broken in 

 the middle/ where it was sound, and nine inches and an 

 half in circumference ; and we were obliged to throw our- 

 selves flat on the ground to escape being wounded by the 

 stones that were hurled about in the air like sand. The 

 violence of the storm, however, subsided in a short time, 

 but left the sky overcast with the appearance of rain. 



Sunday 26. It rained from the preceding evening to 

 this mornings when we embarked at four o'clock. At 

 eight we landed at three large Indian lodges. Their inha- 

 bitants, who were asleep, expressed uncommon alarm and 



