North-West Continent of America. 



143 



not in a state of preparation, and we were as yet unable to 

 ascertain the number of the party. I considered, that if 

 there were but few, it would be needless to pursue them, as 

 it would not be probable that we should overtake them in 

 these thick woods ; and if they were numerous, it Avould 

 be an act of great imprudence to make the attempt, at least 

 during their present alarm. I therefore ordered my people 

 to strike off to the opposite side, that we might see if any 

 of them had sufficient courage to remain ; but, before we 

 were half over the river, which, in this part, is not more 

 than an hundred yards wide, two men appeared on a rising 

 ground over against us, brandishing their spears, display- 

 ing their bows and arrows, and accompanying their hostile 

 gestures with loud vociferations. My interpreter did not 

 •hesitate to assure them, that they might dispel their ap- 

 prehensions, as we were white people, who meditated no in- 

 jury, but were, on the contrary, desirous of demonstrating 

 every mark of kindness and friendship. They did not, 

 however, seem disposed to confide in our declarations, and 

 actually threatened, if we came over before they were more 

 fully satisfied of cur peaceable intentions, that they would 

 discharge their arrows at us. This was a decided kind of 

 conduct which I did not expect ; at the same time I readi- 

 ly complied with their proposition, and after -some time 

 had passed in hearing and answering their questions, they 

 consented to our landing, though not without betraying 

 very evident symptoms of fear and distrust. They, how- 

 ever, laid aside their weapons, and when I stepped for- 

 ward and took each of them by the hand, one of them, but 

 with a very tremulous action, drew his knife from his 

 sleeve, and presented it to me as a mark of his submission 

 to my will and pleasure. On our first hearing the noise of 

 these people in the woods, we displayed our flag, which 

 was now shown to them as a token of friendship. They 

 examined us, and every thing about us, with a minute and 

 suspicious attention. They had heard^ indeed, of white 

 men, but this was the first time that they had ever seen an 

 human being of a complexion different from their own. 

 The party had been here but a few hours ; nor had they 

 yet erected their sheds ; and, except the two men now 

 with us, they had all fled, leaving their little property be- 

 hind them. To those which had given us such a proof of 

 their confidence, we paid the most conciliating attentions 

 in our power. One of them I sent to recalhis people, and 



