BY MACKENZIE'S RIVER. 
21 
t>een conveyed away by stealtli. Such an unequivocal de- 
monstration of a hostile purpose, increased the apprehen- 
sions of the party, and they hurried into the canoe, but were 
instantly assailed by a flight of arrows from the Eskimaux, 
each of whom shot three from his bow at a time. Mr Li- 
vingston and a Canadian voyageur fell under the first 
discharge: two of the Indians, who had not yet embarked, 
but were holding on the bow of the canoe, let go, and 
escaped into the woods, whilst James Sutherland and 
the other survivors floated down the stream. They were 
instantly pursued by the Eskimaux in their boats, and the 
Indians from their hiding places observed the conflict to be 
carried on until five of the Eskimaux were killed, and 
James Sutherland was left alone in the bow of his canoe, 
which was in a sinking condition. This much was learnt 
from one of the Indians, who travelled to Fort Chepewyan 
with the account of the melancholy catastrophe, having, in 
bis route, had his wants supplied by parties of the Lou- 
cheux, and other nations he fell in with. It was afterwardvS 
ascertained, through the medium of the Hare Indians, that 
the canoe had drifted down opposite the main encampment 
of the Eskimaux, and that James Sutherland there threw 
himself into the water, swam ashore, and placed himself be- 
twixt the knees of an elderly man, for protection. A con- 
sultation being now held, his destruction was decided upon : 
and as he was judged invulnerable from his having escaped 
from the conflict without a wound, they effected their pur- 
pose by tying a stone round his neck, and throwing him into 
the river ; his protector having in the mean time conveyed 
himself away, it being contrary to their ideas of humanity 
that he should witness the death of his protege. 
The year following this tragical event, a party of the 
Red-knife or Copper Indians, making war upon the Eski- 
mawx, at the mouth of the Copprr-mine ilivcr^ found ,^omc 
