183

CHAP. VII.

"Le grand jeune Homme."- Trade with the Indians.Sunday. Mr. King arrives, with two Bateaux. — Performed a Surgical Operation. - Discomforts of an Indian Canoe.- Conduct of the Party.- Erection of Party.—Erection new Dwelling.-Arrival of Indians. - Their Policy. -Aged Indian Woman.-Starving Visitors.-Case of Revenge for Inhospitality.-The Thlew-ee-choh described. -Observatory.-Strange Appearance of the Aurora. -Pouring in of the Indians. -Superstitious Fancies. -Shortness of Food.-Domiciled in the new Building, named Fort Reliance.-Supplies again fail.—Akaitcho. -Discharge of De Charlôit and two Iroquois; also, of La Charité.-Gloom of the Indians. -Story of a young Hunter. Breach of Indian Law. - Death of the old Woman.— Christmas-day. - Short Allowance. Experiments. Excessive Cold. - Arrival of Mr. McLeod. Barbarous Atrocity. Revolting Story of an Indian.

I LEARNT from Mr. McLeod, that he had waited the arrival of the Indian chief, "Le grand jeune homme," at Fort Resolution; that at first the chief had affected to be mightily disappointed on being told that I did not require his services; but had gradually moderated his ill humour on hearing of our limited stock of goods, and the strict regulations that were to be enforced; and finally, having been requited for his loss of

time with the value of forty beaver skins, he became perfectly satisfied, and was so left.

Assisted by the Indians, and having picked up La Prise with my canoe, &c., at Hoarfrost River, Mr. McLeod had arrived on the' 22d of August; and, with only four men, had contrived to erect the log framework already mentioned. The work had been seriously interrupted by the sand-flies; nor could the men stand to it at all without the protection of clouds of smoke, from small fires of green wood which were kept burning around them.

The hopes of a new establishment on the borders of a lake rest chiefly on the produce of a fishery; and the daily supply of white fish, as well as trout, yielded by the nets, seemed to verify the accounts we had received, and held out an encouraging prospect for the future. Some meat, also, had been seasonably brought in by the Indians, in paying for which, Mr. McLeod, foreseeing a great expenditure of ammunition, had, with a proper regard to economy, reduced the usual trading prices. The innovation was by no means popular, but, as there were upwards of one hundred and fifty miles between us and the next house, it was their interest to acquiesce; for, the market being near their hunting grounds, if they got smaller profits, they had quicker returns.

The following day being Sunday, divine service was read, and our imperfect thanks were humbly offered to Almighty God for the mercies which had been already vouchsafed to us; and, though in this imperious climate, with every thing to do, time was certainly precious, yet, feeling that the first opening of the sacred volume in this distant wilderness ought not to be profaned by any mixture of common labour, I made it a day of real quiet and repose.

After the men had recovered from their bites, rather than their fatigue, they were sent for the meat which we had concealed on our track; and, returning by a different route, they had the good fortune to find a clump of trees sufficiently free from knots to admit of their being converted into the proper length of planking for boats. This discovery was most important, as it was afterwards found to be the only clump at all suited to the purpose; and, had it not been thus luckily stumbled on, the trouble, expense, and fatigue of sending at least a hundred miles over the ice for wood, might have cramped, if not altogether paralysed, our efforts in the ensuing summer.

On the 16th of September, I had the gratification to welcome to the fort my companion Mr. King. He arrived with the two laden bateaux; and, notwithstanding his inexperience in the country, he brought his heavy cargo in a very

good state of preservation. He had suffered, as was to be expected, the usual impositions which the old voyageurs consider themselves entitled to practise on the uninitiated, and had, consequently, been exposed to frequent personal inconveniences. Between Cumberland House and Isle à la Crosse, he met some Cree Indians, "who passed," said Mr. King," in their canoes, in seeming high spirits; but in a short time the old man of the family returned, with a request that I would extract a tooth, claiming me, at the same time, as a brother medicine man.' The difference in his first and second appearance was truly ludicrous, - then active and cheerful, now, diseased and dejected: he acted his part admirably, and, at his earnest entreaty, I gave him a few harmless mixtures, which might assist him in maintaining his professional respectability." The negligence of the men had caused his passing the pitch springs in the Elk River without taking in a supply; and, on reaching Chipewyan, he had to send back for some. Fortunately, during the delay so occasioned, Mr. Charles, the chief factor of the district, arrived, and relieved him from another embarrassing situation with regard to provisions. He had my directions to supply his party with enough for thirty days' consumption, but was informed by the clerk in charge that he could not have

half the quantity, as some must be reserved for the Slave Lake and Peace River brigades. His instructions were positive, to keep our sixty bags entire, except in case of actual starvation; and he had begun therefore to provide nets, to avoid the necessity of trenching on them, when the opportune appearance of the chief factor removed his disquietude, by clearing the store for him. Mr. King at the same time bore grateful testimony to the general courtesy and kindness manifested by this gentleman. Certainly, to one who is wandering for the first time in a strange land, the meeting with a generous and warmhearted countryman is inexpressibly delightful. It cheers and refreshes the traveller, carrying back his thoughts to that dear land which claims them both for its children. That Mr. King, under the circumstances in which he found himself, should feel even more than ordinary gratitude was but natural.

While at Chipewyan, Mr. King had performed a successful operation on a woman's upper lip, which was in a shocking state from cancer, brought on, as he thought, from the inveterate habit of smoking, so common among the halfbreeds. He had met with two or three cases of it before; one, at Fort William, was incurable, and very loathsome. His presence was hailed with delight at every post beyond Jack River,