paft eight, we landed at the fame fpot where; we: had already ericataped
on the ninth inftant. H
In about an hour after our arrival,we$were joined b y eleven of the
•natives, who were ftationed further ~ up the river, and there were fome
among* them whom we had not feen during our former vifit to this place.
The brother of our late guide, however, was o f the, party.- and was page*
in his inquiries after, him; but our account did not prove latisfa&ary.
They all gave evident tokens of their fufpicion, and ©heir of thennraade
a diflinQ: harangue on the occafion. Our Indians,,, indeed,, did not underhand
their eloquence, though they conje&ured it to her .very unfa*-
vourabletbiour affertions* The brother, neverthelefss. piropofed to barter
his credulity for a fmall quantity of beads, and promifedto believe every
thing I fliouldt Hy, if I wouM gratify him with a . few-of.- thofe baubles:
but he did not fucceed in liis propofition, and L contented myfelf.with
giving him the bow and arrows which our conductor had left with- us. i
My people were now neceffarily engaged in puttingrthe fire-arms in
order, after. the violent rain of the preceding ’day • an- employment
which very much attrafied the euriofity, and appeared;, :in feme "degreedo
awaken the apprehenfions, of the natives. T o their inquirfes concerning
the motives of our preparation, we anfwered by (hewing a pieoe*of xne&t
and a gopfe, and informing them, that we were.preparingour arms to pro-
cure fimilar provifions : atdhe fame time we;affured.them, though it?#as
pur intention to kill any animals we might find,, there; Was no intention
to hurt or injure them. They, however, entreated us notto difeharge our
pieces, in their prefence. I requelted the Englifh chief to alk them fbme
queftions,
gqf#ons, which, they either did not;or i M l not uhderftand; fa that I
failed in obtainingvady informatidn from* them. , , v — ->
feftVbwe I »thoughtif prudent to €t up| in
orderito watch the motions o f «the natives. This eirgdhiftance^was 1
fubjea-of iieh^in^oifey #mffidcireiF curiofityfWas; fhll thore excited, when
thgf faw mS employed* In «Writing. About twelve'$clo£fcT*f>erceiyed
fdur ■ Of their wamen c<»ing ataSg’ thefhore; and theywete Ho foonor
feen by their #ietidsv than they ran hatily tO-ideet thefti, and petfuaded
two of
brought-sthe* other two Who we#i v e ry old, to^OryO^tfee warmth o f
e: o«Mire; but, afiefI *iayib|» ’ theic fbrabout half* ad hour, they ahif te- 0
frre&tdd'.' ‘Thofe who re^Mned, ’ 'inim'ediate^ ** kfedled -W-- fmall ' fire,
and laid themfelves 'down* to fleep rOUfid 'ft, like To f i&any whelps,
having • neither- fkins or-garments of-attyI kindA Wfodmfit I them,
hotwithftanding the cold that prevailed* -My; peoplb tfa^ifrg placed
thefts kettle bf meat bn the fire, I ^as^lSiggd tO 'gtf#rd'
who made feveral attempts'‘to polfe®-fhem^tfekbf
was the Only feftandelhad* Kftheffoldifeotered, o f their bejn^ihSu^iced
by a pilfering difpofition. It might, perhaps-’ be!-a^general'dpiftionf, that
provifions w©reaeommonpropeMy. - I5HoW faW'the fun fet for thefirft
time 'fine© I had beefi b e ^ beftire'. D u fi^ fhei;preeedidgJ # ^ 4 Ihe
weather was ftreloudy, that l ebuld not ObfeHfOkfe^fedftt to the hofrftsbn.
The water had funk, at this place, upward of three feet fince we* had
paffed down the river.
We began our mareh at-half pall three this'ibdrning, the men being ^dftief. 22.
L H employed