Harmon's journal. 



177 



their lives by famine, in the vicinity of Great 

 Slave Lake. Those who survived, were under 

 the necessity of subsisting, several days, upon the 

 flesh of their dead companions. It is reported, 

 that one man killed his wife and child, in order to 

 supply himself with food, who, afterwards, himself 

 starved to death. These Canadians came up into 

 this part of the world, free, to hunt the beaver, 

 &c. and they were at too great a distance from 

 our establishments., to receive any aid from us, 

 until it was too late, for the greater part of 

 them. 



It is not unfrequently the case, that, the sur- 

 viving part of a band of the Natives, subsist upon 

 the flesh of their dead companions, when compel- 

 led to do it for want of other food, sufficient to 

 sustain life. I know a woman who, it is said ate 

 of no less than fourteen of her friends and rela- 

 tions, during one winter. In the summer season, 

 the Indians can find food, almost any where ; but 

 the case is far otherwise, when the ground is cov- 

 ered with snow, to the depth of several feet. 



Wednesday, 22. Sent people to look for birch 

 bark, to make canoes, to take out our returns 

 to the Rainy Lake. The greater part of the ca- 

 noes, in which we bring our merchandise into the 

 country, will not answer to transport our furs be- 

 low. 



23 



