188 Journal of a Voyage through the 



perseverance, I stated the difficulties that threatened our 

 continuing to navigate the river, the length of time it 

 would require, and the scanty provision we had for such 

 a voyage : I then proceeded for the foregoing reasons to 

 propose a shorter route, by trying the over-land road to 

 the sea. At the same time, as I knew from experience, 

 the difficulty of retaining guides, and as many circum- 

 stances might occur to prevent our progress in that direc- 

 tion, I declared my resolution not to attempt it, unless 

 they would engage, if we could not after all proceed over 

 land, to return with me, and continue our voyage to the 

 discharge of the waters, whatever the distance might be. 

 At all events, I declared, in the most solemn manner, that 

 I would not abandon my design of reaching the sea, if I 

 anade the attempt alone, and that I did not despair of re- 

 turning in safety to my friends. 



This proposition met with the most zealous return, and 

 they unanimously assured me, that they were as willing 

 now as they had ever been, to abide by my resoluiions, 

 whatever they might be, and to follow me wherever I 

 should go. I therefore requested them to prepare for an 

 immediate departure, and at the same time gave notice to 

 the man who had engaged to be our guide, to be in readi- 

 ness to accompany us. When our determination to re- 

 turn up the river was made known, several of the natives 

 took a very abrupt departure ; but to those who remained, 

 I gave a few useful articles, explaining to them at the same 

 time, the advantages that would result to them, if their 

 relations conducted me to the sea, along such a road as 

 they had described. I had already given a moose skin to 

 some of the women for the purpose of making shoes, 

 which were now brought us ; they were well sewed but ill 

 shaped, and a few beads were considered as a sufficient 

 remuneration for the skill employed on them. Mr. Mac- 

 kay, by my desire, engraved my name, and the date of 

 the year on a tree. 



When we were ready to depart, our guide proposed, for 

 the sake of expedition, to go over land to his lodge, that he 

 might get there before us, to make some necessary pre- 

 paration for his journey. I did not altogether relish his 

 design, but was obliged to consent; I thought it prudent, 

 however, to send Mr. Mackay, and the two Indians 

 along with him. Our place of rendezvous, was the sub- 

 terraneous house which we passed yesterday. 



