230 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



might be inclined to deny to our necessities. 

 I forwarded by them letters to the Colonial 

 Office and Admiralty, detailing the pro- 

 ceedings of the Expedition up to this 

 period. 



On the 22& we were suprized by a visit 

 from a dog; the poor animal was in low 

 condition, and much fatigued. Our Indians 

 discovered, by marks on his ears, that he 

 belonged to the Dog-ribs. This tribe, un- 

 like the Chipewyans and Copper Indians, 

 had preserved that useful associate of man, 

 although from their frequent intercourse 

 with the latter people, they were not igno- 

 rant of the prediction alluded to in a former 

 page. One of our interpreters was imme- 

 diately despatched, with an Indian, to en- 

 deavour to trace out the Dog-ribs, whom 

 he supposed might be concealed in the 

 neighbourhood, from the dread of the Cop- 

 per Indians ; although we had no doubt of 

 their coming to us, were they aware of our 

 being here. The interpreter, however, re- 

 turned without having discovered any traces 

 of strange Indians ; a circumstance which 



