North-West Continent of America, 259 



eighteen men, were coming down the stream ; and the 

 apprehensions which they occasioned did not subside till 

 they shot by us with great rapidity. 



At length we came in sight of the house, when we saw 

 our young Indian with six others, in a canoe coming to 

 meet us. This was a very encouraging circumstance, as 

 it satisfied us that the natives who had preceded, and whose 

 malignant designs we had every reason to suspect, had not 

 been able to prejudice the people against us. We, there- 

 fore, landed at the house, where we were received in a 

 friendly manner, and having procured some fish, we pro- 

 ceeded on our journey. 



It was almost dark when we arrived at the next house, 

 and the first persons who presented themselves to our ob- 

 servation, were the turbulent Indian and his four compan- 

 ions. They were not very agreeable objects; but we 

 were nevertheless well received by the inhabitants, who 

 presented us with fish and berries. The Indians who had 

 caused us so much alarm, we now discovered to be inha- 

 bitants of the islands, and traders in various articles, such 

 as cedar-bark, prepared to be wove into mats, fish-spawn, 

 copper, iron, and beads, the latter of which they get on 

 their own coast. For these they receive in exchange 

 roasted salmon, hemlock-bark cakes, and the other kind 

 made of salmon roes, sorrel, and bitter berries. Having 

 procured as much fish as would serve us for our supper, 

 and the meals of the next day, all my people went to rest 

 except one, with whom I kept the first watch. 



Wednesday 24. After twelve last night, I called up Mr. 

 Mackay, and one of the men, to relieve us, but as a ge- 

 neral tranquillity appeared to prevail in the place, I recom- 

 mended them to return to their rest. I was the first awake 

 in the morning, and sent Mr. Mackay to see if our canoe 

 remained where we left it; but he returned to inform me 

 that the Islanders had loaded it with their articles of traffic, 

 and were ready to depart. On this intelligence I hurried 

 to the water side, and seizing the canoe by the stem, I 

 should certainly have overset it, and turned the three men 

 that were in it, with all their merchandize, into the river, 

 had not one of the people of the house, who had been very 

 kind to us, informed me that this was their own canoe, 

 and that m)^ guide had gone off with ours. At the same 

 moment the other two Indians who belonged to the party, 



