44 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



a supply of stores for the equipment of the 

 Indians in their vicinity. Fort Wedder- 

 burne is a small house, which was con- 

 structed on Coal Island about five years 

 ago, when the Hudson's Bay Company 

 recommenced trading in this part of the 

 country. Fort Chipewyan has been built 

 many years, and is an establishment of very 

 considerable extent, conspicuously situated 

 on a rocky point of the northern shore ; it 

 has a tower, which can be seen at a consi- 

 derable distance. This addition was made 

 about eight years ago to watch the motions 

 of the Indians, who intended, as it was then 

 reported, to destroy the house and all its 

 inhabitants. They had been instigated to 

 this rash design by the delusive stories of 

 one among them, who had acquired great 

 influence over his companions by his sup- 

 posed skill in necromancy. This fellow 

 had prophesied that there would soon be 

 a complete change in the face of their 

 country; that fertility and plenty would 

 sueceed to the present sterility; and that 

 the present race of white inhabitants, unless 



