North-West Continent of America. 11$ 



by North three miles, North- West by West two miles 

 and an half, South- West by West half a mile, South- 

 South-West a mile and a half, and South- West a mile and 

 a half. Here I had a meridian altitude, which gave 56. 

 17. 44. North latitude. 



The last course continued a mile and an half, South by 

 West three quarters of a mile, South-West by South 

 three miles and an half, and West-South- West two miles 

 and an half. Here the land lowered on both sides, with 

 an increase of wood, and displayed great numbers of ani- 

 mals. The river also widened from three to five hundred 

 yards, and was full of islands and flats. Having continued 

 our course three miles, we made for the shore at seven, to 

 pass the night. 



At the place from whence we proceeded this morning, 

 a river falls in from the North ; there are also several 

 islands, and many rivulets on either side, which are too 

 small to deserve particular notice. We perceived along 

 the river tracks of large bears, some of which were nine 

 inches wide, and of a proportionate length. We saw one 

 of their dens, or winter quarters, called rvatee, in an 

 island, which was ten feet deep, five feet high, and six 

 feet wide ; but we had not yet seen one of those animals. 

 The Indians entertain great apprehension of this kind of 

 bear, which is called the grisly bear, and they never ven- 

 ture to attack it but in a party of at least three or four. 

 Our hunters, though they had been much higher than this 

 part of our voyage, by land, knew nothing of the river. 

 One of them mentioned, that having been engaged in a 

 war expedition, his party on their return made their 

 canoes at some distance below us. The wind was North 

 throughout the day, and at times blew with considerable 

 violence. 



The apprehensions which I had f It respecting the young 

 men, were not altogether groundless, for the eldest of them 

 told me that his uncle had last night addressed him iii the 

 following manner: — " My nephew, your departure makes 

 my heart painful. The white people may be said to rob us 

 of you. They are about to conduct you into the midst of 

 our enemies, and you may never more return to us. Were 

 you not with the Chief,* I know not what I should do, 

 but he requires your attendance, and you must follow him." 



* These people, as well as all the natives on this side of Lake Wi- 

 nipic, give the mercantile agent that distinguished appellation. 



