North-West Continent of America. 



75 



successful excursion. In the mean time the hunters had 

 killed seven geese. There were several showers of rain, 

 accompanied with gusts of wind and thunder. The nets 

 had been set during our absence. 



Thursday 1 3. The nets were taken up, but not one fish was 

 found in them; and at half past three we continued our route, 

 with very favourable weather. We passed several places, 

 where fires had been made by the natives, and many tracks 

 were perceptible along the beach. At seven we were op- 

 posite the island where our Pemmican had been concealed : 

 two of the Indians were accordingly dispatched in search 

 of it, and it proved very acceptable, as it rendered us more 

 independent of the provisions which were to be obtained 

 by our fowling pieces, and qualified us to get out of the 

 river without that delay which our hunters would other- 

 wise have required. In a short time we perceived a smoke 

 on the shore to the South-West, at the distance of three 

 leagues, which did not appear to proceed from any run- 

 ning fire. The Indians, who were a little way a-head of 

 us, did not discover it, being engaged in the pursuit of a 

 flock of geese, at which they fired several shots, when the 

 smoke immediately disappeared ; and in a short time we 

 saw several of the natives run along the shore, some of 

 whom entered their canoes. Though we were almost op- 

 posite to them, we could not cross the river without 

 going further up it, from the strength of the current ; I 

 therefore ordered our Indians to make every possible ex- 

 ertion, in order to speak with them, and wait our arrival. 

 But as soon as our small canoe struck off, we could per- 

 ceive the poor affrighted people hasten to the shore, and 

 after drawing their canoes on the beach, hurry into the 

 woods. It was past ten before we landed at the place 

 where they had deserted their canoes, which were four in 

 number. They were so terrified that they had left s'everal 

 articles on the beach. I was very much displeased with 

 my Indians, who, instead of seeking the natives, were di- 

 viding their property. I rebuked the English Chief with 

 some severity for his conduct, and immediately or- 

 dered him, his young men, and my own people, to go 

 in search of the fugitives, but their fears had made them 

 too nimble for us, and we could not overtake them. We 

 saw several dogs in the woods, and some of them follow* 

 ed us to our canoe. 



