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Journal of a Voyage through the 



that were twenty-four feet in the girth, and of a propor- 

 tionate height. The alder trees are also of an uncommon 

 size ; several of them were seven feet and an half in cir- 

 cumference, and rose to forty feet without a branch ; but 

 my men declared that they had, in their progress, seen 

 much larger of both kinds. The other wood was hem- 

 lock, white birch, two species of spruce-firs, willows, &c. 

 Many of the large cedars appeared to have been examined, 

 as I suppose, by the natives, for the purpose of making 

 canoes, but finding them hollow at heart, they were suf- 

 fered to stand. There was but little underwood, and the 

 soil was a black, rich mould, which would well reward the 

 trouble of cultivation. From the remains of bones on cer- 

 tain spots, it is probable that the natives may have burned 

 their dead in this wood. 



As it was uncertain what our reception might be at the 

 village, I examined every man's arms and ammunition, and 

 gave Mr. Mackay, who had unfortunately lost his gun, one 

 of my pistols. Our late conductors had informed us that 

 the man whom we left in a dying state, and to whom I had 

 administered some Turlington's balsam, was dead; and it 

 was by no means improbable that I might be suspected of 

 hastening his end. 



At one in the afternoon we came to the bank of the river, 

 which was opposite to the village, which appeared to be in 

 a state of perfect tranquillity. Several of the natives were 

 fishing above and below the weir, and they very readily 

 took us over in their canoes. The people now hurried 

 down to the water-side, but I perceived none of the chief's 

 family among them. They made signs to me to go to his 

 house ; I signified to them not to crowd about us, and in- 

 deed drew a line, beyond which I made them understand 

 they must not pass. I now directed Mr. Mackay, and 

 the men to remain there, with their arms in readiness, and 

 to keep the natives at a distance, as I was determined to 

 go alone to the chief's house ; and if they should hear the 

 report of my pistols, they were ordered to make the best 

 of their way from these people, as it would then be equally 

 fruitless and dangerous to attempt the giving me any as- 

 sistance, as it would be only in the last extremity, and 

 when I was certain of their intention to destroy me, that I 

 should discharge my pistols. My gun I gave to Mr. Mac- 

 kay, when, with my loaded pistols in my belt, and a 

 poniard in my hand, I proceeded to the abode of the chief. 



