472 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



repeating the names of the persons in a loud singing tone, which 

 was frequently interrupted by bursts of tears. One woman was so 

 affected by the loss of her only son, that she seemed deprived of 

 reason, and wandered about the tents the whole day, crying and 

 singing out his name. 



On the 1st of December we removed with the Indians to the 

 southward. 



On the 4th, we again set off after the Indians about noon, and 

 soon overtook them, as they had halted, to drag from the water, 

 and cut up and share, a moose-deer, that had been drowned in a 

 rapid part of the river, partially covered with ice. These opera- 

 tions detained us a long time, which was the more disagreeable, as 

 the weather was extremely unpleasant from cold low fogs. We 

 were all much fatigued at the hour of encampment, which was 

 after dark, though the day's journey did not exceed four miles. At 

 every halt the elderly men of the tribe used to make holes in the 

 ice and put in their lines. One of them shared the produce of his 

 fishery with us this evening. 



In the afternoon of the 6th, Belanger, and another Canadian, arrived 

 from Fort Providence, sent by Mr. Weeks, with two trains of dogs, 

 some spirits and tobacco for the Indians, a change of dress for 

 ourselves, and a little tea and sugar. They also brought letters for 

 us from England, and from Mr. Back and Mr. Wentzel. By the 

 former we received the gratifying intelligence of the successful ter- 

 mination of Captain Parry's voyage ; and were informed of the 

 promotion of myself and Mr. Back, and of poor Hood, our grief 

 for whose loss was renewed by this intelligence. The gratification 

 which it would otherwise have afforded, was materially damped by 

 our sincere regret that he had not lived to receive this just reward 

 of his merit and services. The letter from Mr. Back stated, that 

 the rival Companies in the fur trade had united ; but that, owing to 



