truth, they were tired of the repetitions and details of my questions; and no wonder; for before I began, they had sat up with Mr. M'Leod the whole night, telling their prolix stories with much cheerfulness. I could not help smiling at the Camarade, who, puzzled and distressed at the many positions in which I requested he would place himself, so as to give me an idea of the bearings of what he was describing, at last rather peevishly exclaimed, "that we did not place the world as it was; whereas he kept steadily to the rising and setting sun."

In our progress down Slave River, we halted for a short time at a cache of Mr. Stuart's, having his permission to take from it a stock of birch bark, sufficient for building a new canoe. On the 8th of August we reached Great Slave Lake, and were received at Fort Resolution by Mr. M'Donnell, the gentleman in charge.

83

CHAP. III.

Inquiries and Embarrassments about the Route.- Preparations for Departure.- Embark in search of the Thlew-ee-choh. Indian Encampment and Indian Politeness.- Point of Honour among Indian Hunters. - Description of the Country through which the Route lay. A small Ice-berg seen. A Bear Hunt. Indian Inconsistency. -Description of the Coast Line.Point Keith and Christie's Bay. · -Eastern Extremity of Great Slave Lake.-Discovery of the River supposed to lead towards the Thlew-ee-choh. Preparations to ascend it.

Soon after my arrival, I was informed by Mr. M'Donnell that the chief, called "Le grand Jeune Homme," who had been mentioned to me by Mr. Charles, was somewhere near the Buffalo Creek, a day or two from the house, employed in making canoes, in the full conviction that he was selected to accompany the expedition, and feeding his imagination with the thoughts of a boundless remuneration. Thinking it right to eradicate immediately so preposterous a notion, I despatched a couple

of lads in a canoe, to acquaint him of our arrival, and to require his attendance. In the mean time, there being many Indians at the Fort, and among them a half-breed, of the name of La Prise, whom I had seen on a previous occasion, and who had now become a kind of leader of a small party accustomed to hunt to the eastward, I thought it a good opportunity of gaining some information as to the bending of the Great Slave Lake, and the nature of the country at its eastern extremity. La Prise, who had been subjected to similar catechising by my friend Sir John Franklin, in 1820, at once understood me, and pointed to the compass, as an instrument with which he was acquainted. Having been placed right over it, he pointed his hand in the direction of the places required, while I carefully noted their magnetic bearings; and it is but justice to state, that the whole of his description was subsequently found to be remarkably correct. He made the lake run nearly north, and estimated the distance at about five days' march, for a light canoe, well manned. A young hunter, however, who had just come from that part, with a message from one of his companions, offering to take me by a new cut to the Teh-lon, differed from La Prise, and with a bit of charcoal drew a sketch, of which the following is an accurate copy.

It was gratifying to observe that, according to this description, there was a water communication the whole way, with the exception of three portages, probably near the height of land. With this local knowledge of, I may say, every inch of ground in those directions, it was not a little singular that he, as well as all the rest of his tribe, was utterly ignorant of the situation of the Thlew-ee-choh. Not so, however, of its evil qualities; and, like the Camarade, they agreed,

one and all, in magnifying its dangers, and deprecating any rash attempt to launch a boat on its unnavigable waters. "And why,” said they, "should the chief wish to go there, when the Teh-lon is not only nearer, but offers him so many more advantages? where he will find, musk ox, moose, and rein-deer, wood, fish, and animals wherewith to pass a comfortable winter. It is true," continued they, "that our fathers did go down the Thlew-ee-choh, when they made war on the Esquimaux, a long time ago; but how few returned? and who is there now to tell of what they did, and what befell them? No one; they are in the land of spirits, and our old men only remember their names."

Nor was this the only discouragement of my projected route by the Thlew-ee-choh, for at the same time a circumstance came to light, as unexpected as it was unwelcome. A Canadian, named Sanpére, had formerly, at Sir John Franklin's request, been sent by the gentleman at that time in charge of Fort Resolution, to ascertain the existence of the Thlew-ee-choh. The man accordingly set out, in company with the natives, and on his return gave a detailed account of his journey. But his guides, to some of whom I was speaking, now affirmed that on reaching the end of the lake next to Great Slave Lake, he became alarmed; and in spite of all