178 'Journal of a Voyage through the 



below, with three men in it. We thought it prudent to 

 wait for their arrival, and they proved to be some of their 

 relations, who had received the alarm from the messen- 

 gers, which I have already mentioned as having been sent 

 down the river for that purpose, and who had passed on, 

 as we were afterwards informed, to extend the notice of 

 our arrival. Though these people saw us in the midst of 

 their friends, they displayed the most menacing actions,, 

 and hostile postures. At length, liowever, this wild,, 

 savage spirit appeared to subside, and the}^ were persuaded 

 to land. One of them, who was a middle aged person, 

 whose agitations had been less frequent than those of his 

 companions, and who Was treated with particular respect 

 by them all, inquired who we were, whence we came,' 

 whither we were going, and what was the motive of our 

 coming into that country. When his friends had satisfied 

 him as far as they were able, respecting us, he instantly 

 advised us to delay our departure for that night, as their 

 relations below, having been by this time alarmed by the 

 messengers, who had been sent for that purpose, would 

 certainly oppose our passage, notwithstanding I had two of 

 their own people with me. He added, that they would all 

 of them be here by sun-set, when they would be convinced, 

 as he was, that we were good people, and meditated no 

 ill designs against them. 



Such were the reasons which this Indian urged in favour 

 of our remaining till the next morning ; and they were too' 

 well founded for me to hesitate in complying with them ; 

 besides, by prolonging my stay till the next morning, it 

 was probable that I might obtain some important intelli- 

 gence respecting the country through which I was to pass, 

 and the people who inhabited it. I accordingly ordered 

 the canoe to be unloaded, taken out of the water, and 

 gummed. My tent was also pitched, and the natives 

 were now become so familiar, that I was obliged to let 

 them know my wish to be alone and undisturbed. 



My first application to the native whom I have already 

 particularly mentioned, was to obtain from him such a plan 

 of the river as he should be enabled to give me ; and he com- 

 plied with this request with a degree of readiness and in- 

 telligence that evidently proved it was by no means a new 

 business to him. In order to acquire the best information 

 he could communicate, I assured him, if I found his ac- 

 count correct^ that I would either return myself, or send* 



