78 Attempts to, reach the Sea by Mackenzie's River . 
grounds, which skirt the sea-coast. The Fort is also visited by 
the Loucheux, or Squint-eyes, who inhabit the w est bank of the 
river, and who are separated from the Eskimaux by the Ver- 
milion River, about days’ voyage below Fort Good-Hope. 
At this boundary they often trade with the Eskimaux, and ob- 
tain, at a high price, certain smooth sea-shells, to be inserted as 
ornaments into the septum of the nose. They have also obtain- 
ed at these friendly meetings, strips of whalebone, and pieces of 
the skin and other spoils of sea animals. Notwithstanding this 
occasional friendly intercourse, however, these two tribes more 
often enter each other’s territories in a hostile manner; and so 
many of the Eskimaux have been cut off, that that nation is 
justly very jealous of the visits of strangers. 
Two attempts have been made to reach the sea since the pe- 
riod of Sir Alexander Mackenzie’s voyage. The first, by Mr 
Livingston, in the year 1799 ; when that gentleman, accompa- 
nied by James Sutherland, an interpreter, three Canadians, and 
three Indians, descended in a bark-canoe, a little below the Ver- 
milion River above mentioned. Here they met with a single 
Eskimaux in his small seal-skin boat, whose first act, notwith- 
standing the disparity of force, was to discharge an arrow, which 
penetrated through the sides of the large canoe. They ap- 
proached him, however, and adopting the mode in use among 
the Indian nations of discovering the intentions of strangers, 
presented him with a portion of meat, having first chewed a bit 
of it themselves. He threw it away with disdain, and refused 
to receive any of their presents ; but directed them to put ashore, 
and made signs that his countrymen were at no great distance. 
They complied with his request, whilst he proceeded down the 
stream ; and in a short time returned, accompanied with five of 
his companions, each in his small canoe, and armed with a bow 
and arrows. Mr Livingston endeavoured to conciliate them by 
presents of beads, and other articles ; but instead of appearing 
pleased and grateful, they tied the strings to a pole, and cut 
them in pieces with their arrows. The Indians now warned Mr 
Livingston, that he would in vain attempt to establish a friend- 
ly communication with such people in their present state of 
mind, and were urgent for immediate embarkation, when it was 
discovered that the paddles of the canoe had been conveyed 
