tfie Knifteneaux^ as enemies; who- n ow a llow ’ them to* hunt to thè
North of the track which has- been defcribed, from Fort 4 a Traite^up-
wards, bet when theyi Occafionally meet them, they' infift on-Contributions,
and frequentlyrpunifli refinance: with their arms. This is fi^ iim e s
done at the forts, or places of trade, but then it appears to be-a voluntary
gift. A treat of fumis expe&ed on the oceafion, which the Chepewyans
on no other iaccount ever purchafe; and thofe only Who ha^eihad Tre-
quent intercourfe with the Knifteneaux have any^ inclination to drink
it.
When the Europeans firft penetrated into this country, in 177.7, the
people o f both tribes were numerous, but the fmall pox was fatal to them
all,- fo' that there does not exift o f the one, at prefent, more than foity-C^-
fident families; and the other has been from about thirty to two hundred
families. Thefe numbers areapplicable totheconftant and lefsambt-
tious inhabitants, who.are fatisfied with the quiet poffeflion of a country
affording, without rifk or much trouble, every thing-neceffary to their
comfort; for jince traders have fpread themfelves over it, it is no morethe
rendezvous of the errant Knifteneaux, part of whom ufed annually tore-
turn thither from the country of the Beaver River, which they had.explored
to its fource in their war and hunting excurfions and as. far as-the
Safkatchiwine, where they fometimes met people of their own nation, who
had profecuted limilar conquefts up that rivejri In that country they
found abundance.of filh and animals, fuch as have been already defcribed,
with the addition of the buffalos, who range in the partial patches of
meadow fcattered along the rivers and lakes. From thence they returned
in the fpring to the friends whom they had left; and,*at the fame
time
thnetm^^ witWothersswka hadipeaetratfed, iwithitlM® fame deft gns, into the
AthabaEm>to©unt,ry^whieh;wil#yhe;4 efc'mbed',hereafter.
. fpring wasthe-period oftthas -jopfuhme^kig^whenit-h^ir t im e r s
Occupied in feafting, dancing; - and other paftiwes;. which were occa?
ftonally'fufpended jfbirrfaerifice, and -rdigiousTolemnityt while the naf-
rativcs>'or-cheir'travels, and,'the Hftoryof their wars, amufed and.animated
t&eufeftival. ft pheItime^of (rejoac-ing. was-butHhoit, anU was foon -iqter-
rupted byithe neceffary.preparations,for-their annual journey to Chuxehjft,
io exchange their..-furs Tor Tuch/European- articles as were now become
nefceffary. to them. ta T he ihortnefs. of-the feafons, and the great length
Of their way *equiring.*the utmoft difpatdh, the moft. afliye men of the
tribe; with th£ir ymmgeft women, and! a few of «their children undertook
the vdyage-under the direftion of feme of theirs, chiefs; followingjthe
-waters already‘defcribed, to their difeharge afciGhurchilTFa&ory, which
are xaBed, as: has already been obfej-ved; the Mifftnipi/or Great Waters.
There they remained no longer than was fufficient .to barter their
commodities, with >a fupemumeraryy and a day pryt^o^jgftatily them?
felvses with the indulgence ofvfphituous: liquors. At: the- fame time the
in^ohfiderablb;.quantity(th^ pui;ehafe t&WWa&V*®
for a regale with ttheir friends* was held facred, and-referyed ,to heighten
the .enjoyment: ofrthek return home,. ,when the amuferaents, feftivity,
and religious folemnities of the fpring were repeated/.. The ufual.time
appropriated to thefeeoftviyialities being completed, they feparated, to
purlberheir different ;obje£ls; and jtfi d^y were, defermiued to go to war,
they made 'the -neceffary arrangements for-their-future operations*
1.2 But