30 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



bottom of the Athabasca Lake. This gen- 

 tleman, having passed several winters on the 

 Mackenzie's River, and at the posts to the 

 northward of Slave Lake, possessed consi- 

 derable information respecting the Indians, 

 and those parts of the country to which our 

 inquiries were directed, which he very 

 promptly and kindly communicated. During 

 our conversation, an old Chipewyan Indian, 

 named the Rabbit's Head, entered the room, 

 to whom Mr. Dease referred for informa- 

 tion on some point. We found from his 

 answer that he was a step-son of the late 

 chief Matonnabee, who had accompanied 

 Mr. Hearne on his journey to the sea, and 

 that he had himself been of the party, but 

 being then a mere boy, he had forgotten 

 many of the circumstances. He confirmed, 

 however, the leading incidents related by 

 Hearne, and was positive he reached the 

 sea, though he admitted that none of the 

 party had tasted the water. He represented 

 himself to be the only survivor of that 

 party. As he was esteemed a good Indian, 

 I presented him with a medal, which he 



