146 



Journal of a Voyage through the 



sis well as presents, to secure us a kind reception among 

 the natives, and ammunition for the service of the hun- 

 ters, and to defendourselves against any act of hostility. 

 At another time my solicitude lor the success of the ex- 

 pedition incited a wish to remain with the natives, and go 

 to the sea by the way they had described ; but the accom- 

 plishment of such a journey, even if no accident should 

 interpose, would have required a portion of time which 

 it was not in my power to bestow. In my present state of 

 information, to proceed further up the river was consi- 

 dered as a fruitless waste of toilsome exertion ; and to 

 return unsuccessful, after ail our labour, sufferings, and 

 dangers, was an idea too painful to indulge. Besides, I 

 could not yet abandon the hope that the Indians might not 

 yet be sufficiently composed and confident, to disclose 

 their real knowledge of the country freely and fully to 

 me. Nor was I altogether without my doubts respecting 

 the fidelity of my interpreter, who being very much tired 

 of the voyage, might be induced to withhold those com- 

 munications which would induce me to continue it. I there- 

 fore continued my attentions to the natives, regaled them 

 with such provisions as I had, indulged their children 

 with a taste of sugar, and determined to suspend my 

 conversation with them till the following morning. On 

 my expressing a desire to partake of their fish, they brought 

 me a few dried trout, well cured, that had been taken in 

 the river which they lately left. One of the men also 

 brought me five beaver skins, as a present. 



Monday 10. The solicitude that possessed, my mind 

 interrupted my repose ; when the dawn appeared I had 

 already quitted my bed, and was waiting with impatience 

 for another conference with the natives. The sun, how- 

 ever, had risen before they left their leafy bowers, whither 

 they had retired with their children, having most hospita- 

 bly resigned their beds, and the partners of them, to the 

 solicitations of my young men. 



I now repeated my inquiries, but my perplexity was 

 not removed by anv favourable variation in their answers. 

 About nine, however, one of them, still remaining at my 

 fire, in conversation with the interpreters, I understood 

 enough of his language to know that he mentioned some- 

 thing about a great river, at the same time pointing signi- 

 ficantly up that which was before us. On my inquiring 

 ©f the interpreter respecting that expression, I was, in- 



