November 8.—-The Indians this morning requested us to remove
to an encampment on the banks of the river, as they were unwilling
to remain in the house where the bodies of our deceased companions
were lying exposed to view. We agreed, but the day proved too
stormy, and Dr. Richardson and Hepburn having dragged the bodies
to a short distance, and covered them with snow, the objections of
the Indians to remain in the house were dissipated, and they began
to clear our room of the accumulation of dirt, and fragments. of
pounded bones. The improved state of our apartment, and the
large and cheerful fires they kept up, produced in us a sensation of
comfort to which we had long been strangers. In the evening they
brought in a pile of dried wood, which was lying on the river-side, and
towards which we had often cast a wishful eye, being unable to drag
it up the bank. The Indians set about every thing with an activity
that amazed us. Indeed, contrasted with our emaciated figures and
extreme debility, their frames appeared to us gigantic, and their
strength supernatural. These kind creatures next turned their
attention to our personal appearance, and prevailed upon us to shave
and wash ourselves. The beards of the Doctor and Hepburn had
been untouched since they left the sea-coast, and were become of a
hideous length, and peculiarly offensive to the Indians. The Doctor
and I suffered extremely from distention, and therefore ate sparingly*.
Hepburn was getting better, and Adam recovered his
strength with amazing rapidity.
November 9.—This morning was pleasantly fine. Crooked-Foot
caught four large trout in Winter Lake, which were very much
• The first alvine discharges after we received-food, were, as Heame remarks, on a
similaroccasioh, attended with excessive pain. Previous to the arrival of the Indians the
urinary secretion was extremely abundant, and we were obliged to rise from bed iii consequence
upwards often times in a.night. This'was an extreme annoyance in our
reduced state. It may, perhaps, be attributed to the quantity of the country tea that we
drank. - .
prized, especially by the Doctor and myself, who had taken a dislike
to meat, in consequence of our sufferings from repletion, which rendered
us almost incapable of moving. Adam and Hepburn in a
good measure escaped this pain. Though the night was stormy, and
our apartment freely admitted the wind, we felt no inconvenience,
the Indians were so very careful in covering us up, and in keeping a
good fire ; and our plentiful cheer gave such power of resisting the
cold, that we could scarcely believe otherwise than that the season
had become milder.
O n the 13th, the weather was stormy, with constant snow. The
Indians became desponding at the non-arrival of the supply, and
would neither go to hunt nor fish. They frequently expressed
their fears of some misfortune having befallen Boudel-kell; and, in
the evening, went off suddenly, without apprizing us of their intention,
having first given to each of us a handful of pounded meat, which
they had reserved. Their departure, at first, gave rise to a suspicion
of their having deserted us, not meaning to return, especially as the
explanations of Adam, who appeared to be in their secret, were very
unsatisfactory. At length, by interrogations, we got from him the
information, that they designed to march night and day, until they
should reach Akaitcho’s encampment, whence they would send us
aid. As we had combatted their fears about Boudel-kell, they, perhaps,
apprehended that we should oppose their determination, and
therefore. concealed it. We were now left a second time without
food, and with appetites recovered, and strongly excited by recent
indulgence.
On the following day the Doctor and Hepburn resumed their
former occupation of collecting wood, and I was able to assist a little
in bringing it into the house. Adam, whose expectation of the
arrival of the Indians had been raised by the fineness of the weather,
became, towards night, very desponding, and refused to eat the