162 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



that the Indians had greatly the advantage 

 of us in this operation ; the men carried 

 their small canoes, the women and children 

 the clothes and provisions, and at the end 

 of the portage they were ready to embark ; 

 whilst it was necessary for our people to 

 return four times, before they could trans- 

 port the weighty cargo with which we 

 were burdened. After passing through 

 another expansion of the river, and over the 

 Steep Portage of one hundred and fifteen 

 yards, we encamped on a small rocky isle, 

 just large enough to hold our party, and 

 the Indians took possession of an adjoining 

 rock. We were now thirty miles from 

 Fort Providence. 



As soon as the tents were pitched, the 

 officers and men were divided into watches 

 for the night; a precaution intended to be 

 taken throughout the journey, not merely 

 to prevent our being surprised by strangers, 

 but also to show our companions that we 

 were constantly on our guard. The chief, 

 who suffered nothing to escape his observa- 

 tion, remarked, " that he should sleep with- 



