North-West Continent of America. 14 



formed that he knew of a large river that runs towards the 

 mid-day sun, a branch of which flowed near the source of 

 that which we were now navigating ; and that there were 

 only three small lakes, and as many carrying-places, lead- 

 ing to a small river, which discharges itself into the great 

 river, but that the latter did not empty itself into the 

 sea. The inhabitants, he said, built houses, lived on 

 islands, and were a numerous and warlike people. I de- 

 sired him to describe the road to the other river, by deli- 

 neating it with a piece of coal, on a strip of bark, which 

 he accomplished to my satisfaction. The opinion that 

 the river did not discharge itself into the sea, I very con- 

 fidently imputed to his ignorance of the country. 



My hopes were now renewed, and an object presented 

 itself which awakened my utmost impatience. To facili- 

 tate its attainment, one of the Indians was induced, by 

 presents, to accompany me as a guide to the first inhabit- 

 ants, which we might expect to meet on the small lakes in 

 our way. I accordingly resolved to depart with all expe- 

 dition, and while my people were making every necessary 

 preparation, I employed myself in writing the following 

 description of the natives around me : 



They are low in stature, not exceeding five feet six 

 or seven inches ; and they are of that meagre appearance 

 which might be expected in a people whose life is one suc- 

 cession of difficulties in procuring subsistence. Their 

 faces are round, with high cheek bones ; and their eyes, 

 which are ^mall, are of a dark brown colour ; the cartilage 

 of their nose is perforated, but without any ornaments 

 suspended from it ; their hair is of a dingy black, hanging 

 loose and in disorder over their shoulders, but irregularly 

 cut in the front,, so as not to obstruct the sight ; their 

 beards are eradicated, with the exception of a few strag- 

 gling hairs, and their complection is a swarthy yellow. 



Their dress consists of robes made of the skins of the 

 beaver, the ground hog, and the rein-deer, dressed in the 

 hair, and of the moose-skin without it. All of them are 

 ornamented with a fringe, while some of them have tas- 

 sels hanging down the seams ; those of the ground hog 

 are decorated on the fur side with the tails of the animal, 

 which they do not separate from them. Their garments 

 they tie over the shoulders, and fasten them round the 

 middle with a belt of green skin, which is as stiff as horn; 

 Their leggins are long, and if they were topped with a waist- 



