must have proved fatal to évery one in them. The. powder fortunately
escaped the water, which was soon discharged, when, we
reached the bottom of the rapid. At noon we perceived Hepburn
lying on the left bank of the river, and landed immediately to
receive his information.' As he j represented the water to be shoal
the whole way to the rapid (below which the- Esquimaux were,)
the’ shore party were directed to continue their march to a. sandy
bay at the head of the fall, and there await the arrival of the canoes.
The land in the neighbourhood of the rapid, is of the most singular
form: large irregular sand hills bounding both banks, apparently so
unconnected that they resemble icebergs ; the country around them
consisting of high round green hills. The river becomes wide in
this part, and full of shoals, but we had no difficulty in finding
a channel through them. On regaining the. shore party, we regretted
to find that some of the men had incautiously appeared on
the tops of the hills, just at the time Augustus was conversing with
one of the Esquimaux, who had again approached in his canoe, and
was almost persuaded to land. The unfortunate appearance of so
many people at this instant, revived his fears, and he crossed over
to the eastern bank of the river, and fled with the whole of hi?
party. We learned from Augustus that this party, consisting of
four men and as many women, had manifested a friendly disposition.
T wo of the former were very tall. The man who first came to speak
to him, inquired the number of canoes that we had with us, expressed
himself to be not displeased at our arrival, and desired him
to caution us not to attempt running the rapid, but to make the
portage on the west side of the river. Notwithstanding this
appearance of confidence and satisfaction, it seems they did not
consider their situation free from danger, as they retreated the first
night, to an island somewhat farther down the river, and in the
morning they returned and threw down their lodges, as ,if to give
notice to any of their nation that might arrive, that there was an
enemy in the neighbourhood, From seeing all their property
strewed about, and ten of their dogs left, we entertained the hope
that these, poor people, would return after then first m
subsided; and therefore I determined on remaining until the next day,
in the expectation of seeing, them, as I considered the opening of
an early communication a matter, of the greatest importance in our
state of absolute- ignorance respecting the sea-coast. The canoes
and cargoes were carried across the portage, and we encamped on
the north side of it. We sent Augustus and Junius across the river
to look for the runaways, but their search was fruitless. They put
a few pieces of iron and trinkets in their canoes, which were lying
on the beach. We also sent some men to put up the stages ot
fish, and secure them as much as possible from the attacks of the
dogs. U n d e r the covering of their tents were observed some stone
kettles and hatchets, a few fish spears made of copper, two small
bits of iron, a quantity of skins, and some dried salmon, which was
covered with maggots, and half putrid. The entrails of the fish were
spread out to dry. A great many skins of small birds were hung
up to a stage, and even two mice were preserved in the same way:
Thus it would appear that the necessities of these poor people induce
them to preserve every article that can possibly be usedus food.
Several human skulls which bore the marks of violence, an many
bones were strewed about the ground near the encampment, and as
the spot exactly answers the description given by Mr. Hearne, ot
the place where the Chipewyans who accompanied him perpetrated
the dreadful massacre on the Esquimaux, we had no doubt of this
being the place, notwithstanding the difference in its position as to
latitude and longitude given by him, and ascertained by our observation.
We have, therefore, preserved the appellation of Bloody Fall,
which he bestowed upon it. Its situation by our observations is,
in latitude 67° 42' 35": N., longitude 115° 49' 33 W., variation
50° 20' 14" E. This rapid is a sort of shelving cascade, about three