SCOUT DEPARTURE. 



Jan. 



which was intentionally placed so that they could see the effect 

 of the balls. At sunset they went away as usual, but looking 

 very grave, and talking earnestly. About an hour after dark, 

 the sentry saw something moving along the ground near our 

 tents, within the boundary line, which he thought was a 

 wild animal, and had just levelled his musket to fire at it, 

 when he discovered it was a man, who instantly darted off, and 

 was lost in the darkness. Some native had doubtless stolen to 

 the tents, to see what we were doing ; perhaps with a view to 

 surprise us, if asleep, perhaps only to steal. 



27th. While a few of our party were completing the thatch 

 of the last wigwam, and others were digging in the garden 

 which was made, I was much surprised to see that all the 

 natives were preparing to depart ; and very soon afterwards 

 every canoe was set in motion, — not half a dozen natives 

 remaining. Even Jemmy's own family, his mother and bro- 

 thers, left us ; and as he could give no explanation of this 

 sudden departure, I was in much doubt as to the cause. 

 Whether an attack was meditated, and they were removing 

 the women and children, previous to a general assembly of the 

 men, or whether they had been frightened by our display on 

 the preceding evening, and feared that we intended to attack 

 them, I could not ascertain ; but deeming the latter by far the 

 most probable, I decided to take the opportunity of their 

 departure to give Matthews his first trial of passing a night at 

 the new wigwams. 



Some among us thought that the natives intended to make 

 a secret attack, on account of the great temptation our pro- 

 perty offered ; and in consequence of serious offence which had 

 been taken by two or three old men, who tried to force them- 

 selves into our encampment, while I was at a little distance ; 

 one of whom, when resisted by the sentry, spit in his face ; and 

 went off in a violent passion, muttering to himself, and every 

 now and then turning round to make faces and angry ges- 

 tures at the man who had very quietly, though firmly, pre- 

 vented his encroachment. 



In consequence of this incident, and other symptoms of a 



