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Journal of a Voyage throttgh the 



of this route, as we had not been favoured with a sight of 

 it during the day ; but I imagine it to have been nearly in 

 the same direction as that of yesterday. Our distance could 

 not have been less than fifteen miles. 



Our conductors now began to complain of our mode of 

 travelling, and mentioned their intention of leaving us ; 

 and my interpreters, who were equally dissatisfied, added 

 to our perplexity by their conduct. Besides, these cir- 

 cumstances, and the apprehension that the distance from 

 the sea might be greater than I had imagined, it became a 

 matter of real necessity that we should begin to diminish 

 the consumption of our provisions, and to subsist upon 

 two-thirds of our allowance ; a proposition which was as 

 unwelcome to my people, as it was necessary to be put into 

 immediate practice. 



Friday 12. At half past five this morning we proceeded 

 on our journey, with cloudy weather, and when we came 

 to the end of the lake, several tracks were visible that led 

 to the side of the water ; from which circumstance I con- 

 cluded, that some of the natives were fishing along the 

 banks of it. This lake is not more than three miles long, 

 and about one broad. We then passed four smaller lakes, 

 the two first being on our right, and those which preceded 

 on our left. A small river also flowed across our way 

 from the right, and we passed it over a beaver-dam. A 

 larger lake now appeared on our right, and the mountains 

 on each side of us were covered with snow. We after- 

 wards came to another lake on our right, and soon reached 

 a river, which our guides informed us was the same that 

 we had passed on a raft. They said it was navigable for 

 canoes from the great river, except two rapids, one of 

 which we had seen. At this place it is upwards of twenty 

 yards across, and deep water. One of the guides swam 

 over to fetch a raft which was on the opposite side ; and 

 having increased its dimensions, we crossed at two trips, 

 except four of the men, who preferred swimming. 



Here our conductors renewed their menace of leaving 

 us, and I was obliged to give them several articles, and 

 promise more, in order to induce them to continue till we 

 could procure other natives to succeed them. At four in 

 the afternoon we forded the same river, and being with 

 the guides at some distance before the rest of the people, I 

 sat down to wait for them, and no sooner did they arrive, 

 than the former set off with so much speed, that my at- 



