12 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



morning of our being in the country, we 

 found him prepared to receive us with great 

 kindness, and ready to afford every infor- 

 mation and assistance, agreeably to the de- 

 sire conveyed in Mr. Simon M'Gillivray's 

 circular letter. This gentleman had twice 

 traversed this continent, and reached the 

 Pacific by the Columbia River ; he was, 

 therefore, fully conversant with the different 

 modes of travelling, and with the obstacles 

 that may be expected in passing through 

 unfrequented countries. His suggestions 

 and advice were consequently very valuable 

 to us, but not having been to the northward 

 of the Great Slave Lake, he had no know- 

 ledge of that line of country, except what 

 he had gained from the reports of the In- 

 dians. He was of opinion, however, that 

 positive information, on which our course 

 of proceedings might safely be determined, 

 could be procured from the Indians that 

 frequent the north side of the lake, when 

 they came to the forts in the spring. He 

 recommended my writing to the partner in 

 charge of that department, requesting him 



