252 



Journal of a Voyage through the 



This information produced some very earnest remon- 

 strances to me to hasten our departure, but as I was de- 

 termined not to leave this place, except I was absolutely- 

 compelled to it, till I had ascertained its situation, these 

 solicitations were not repeated. 



While I was taking a meridian, two canoes, of a larger 

 size, and well manned, appeared from the main South- 

 West channel. They seemed to be the fore-runners of 

 others, who were coming to co-operate with the people of 

 the village, in consequence of the message sent by the two 

 boys, which has been already mentioned ; and our young 

 Indian, who understood them, renewed his entreaties for 

 our departure, as they would soon come to shoot with 

 their arrows, and hurl their spears at us. In relating our 

 danger, his agitation was so violent, that he foamed at the 

 mouth. Though I was not altogether free from appre- 

 hensions on the occasion, it was necessary for me to dis- 

 guise them, as my people were panic struck, and some of 

 them asked if it was my determination to remain there to 

 be sacrificed ? My reply was the same as their former im- 

 portunities had received, that I would not stir till I had 

 accomplished my object ; at the same time, to humour 

 their fears, I consented that they should put every thing 

 into the canoe, that we might be in a state of preparation 

 to depart. The two canoes now approached the shore, 

 and in a short time five men, with their families, landed 

 very quietly from them. My instruments being exposed, 

 they examined them with much apparent admiration and 

 astonishment. My altitude, by an artificial horizon, gave 

 52° 21 1 33"; that by the natural horizon was 52° 20 1 48" 

 North latitude. * 



These Indians were of a different tribe from those which 

 I had already seen, as our guide did not understand their 

 language. I now mixed up some vermilion in melted 

 grease, and inscribed, in large characters, on the South- 

 East face of the rock on which we had slept last night, this 

 brief memorial- — " Alexander Mackenzie, from Canada, 

 " by land, the twenty-second of July, one thousand seven 

 ffi hundred and ninety-three." 



As I thought that we were too near the village, I con- 

 sented to leave this place, and accordingly proceeded 

 North-East three miles, when we landed on a point, in a 



* This I found to be the cheek of Vancouver's Cascade Canal 



