From hence? our. courfe was North-NortH-Eaft two miles, when the
river appeared to. be enclofed, as it. were, with lofty, perpendicular,
white rocks, which did not afford us a very agreeable profpe6l. We
now went on Ihore in order to examine the rapid, but did not perceive
any figns of it5-though the Indians ftill continued to magnify its dangers:
however; as fthey. ventured down it, in their fmall canoes, .our appre-
hen^ons were confequently removed, and we followed them at fome
diftarice,.but did not find any increafe in the rapidity of the current;
at length the Indians informed us that we fhould find no. other. rapid
but that which was now bearing us along» ';-The river at this place, is
not above three hundred yards in breadth, but on founding I found
fifty fathoms Water. At the two rivulets that offer their tributary fireams
from either fide, we found fix families, confifting of about, thirty-fiye
perfons; who gave us an ample quantity of excellent fifh, which were,
however, confined • to white fifh, the; poifl'on inconnu, and another of a
round Form and greenilh colour, which was about fourteen inches in
length. We gratified them with a few prefents, and continued. our
voyage. The men, however, followed us in fifteen canoes.
This narrow channel is three miles long, and its courfe North-North-
Eaft. We then fleered North three miles, and landed at anencamp-
ment of three or more families, containing twenty-two perfons^ which
was fituated on the bank of a rivers of a confiderable appearance, which
came from the Eaftward. We obtained hares and partridges from thefe
people, and ■ prefented in return fuch articles as greatly delighted them.
They very much regretted that they had no goods or merchandize to
exchange with us, as they had left them at a lake, from whence the river
iffued,
iffued/and in whofe • vicinity fome of their people'were employed in
fttting fnares for rein deer. ‘They'.engaged to go for ;their articles v----.---- '
o f trade;, and would wait our return, whiehwe, affured them wpuld.be
within two months. There was a youth among them in the capacity
of a flave; whom our Indians uridefftood much »better than any of the ■
natives of this'cduntry,’.whom they had yet feeri: he was invited to
accompany us, but took the? firfb opportunity tP conceal himfel£*.and
we fdw him no more. *>
- We now fleered .Weft; five; miles, when we again landed, and found
two- families, containing feven people, but had’: reafon to belieye that
there were others hidden in-' the; woods. We received from them two
dozen of hares, and they were about to boil two more, which they
aifo gave- us. We were not ungrateful for-their kindnefs, and left
them: Our courfe was now North-Weft four .miles, and at nine we
landed and pitched our tents, when one o f our people killed a grey
crane. Our condu&o'f renewed his complaints, npt, as he affured ;-us,
from any apprehenfion of Pur ill-treatment, but of the Efquimaux, whom
he reprefented as a very wicked and malignant people; who would put
US;all to- death.» LHe added, alfo; that it was but; two .fummers fince a
large pasty of them came up this fiver; -and killed imany-,ef his.relation$.
Two Indians followed us from the laft lodges.
. f A l half paft two in the fnorning we embarked, andfteere.il a Wefterly Wednef. a.
oburfe, aftdi foon after put afhoreat two ledges of-riindIndians. .We.
pade them a feivf-trifling prefents, but without -difembarking, -and: had
proceeded but a fmall diftance from thence; when we. obferved feveral
G 2 - fmokes