_Wednesday, 22._–We began our march at half past three this morning,
the men being employed to tow the canoe. I walked with the Indians to
their huts, which were at a greater distance than I had any reason to
expect, for it occupied three hours in hard walking to reach them. We
passed a narrow, and deep river in our way, at the mouth of which the
natives had set their nets. They had hid their effects, and sent their
young women into the woods, as we saw but very few of the former, and
none of the latter. They had large huts built with drift-wood on the
declivity of the beach and in the inside the earth was dug away, so as
to form a level floor. At each end was a stout fork, whereon was laid a
strong ridge-pole, which formed a support to the whole structure, and at
covering of spruce bark preserved it from the rain. Various spars of
different heights were fixed within the hut, and covered with split fish
that hung on them to dry; and fires were made in different parts to
accelerate the operation. There were rails also on the outside of the
building, which were hung around with fish, but in a fresher state than
those within. The spawn is also carefully preserved and dried in the
same manner. We obtained as many fish from them as the canoe could
conveniently contain, and some strings of beads were the price paid for
them, an article which they preferred to every other. Iron they held in
little or no estimation.
During the two hours that I remained here, I employed the English chief
in a continual state of inquiry concerning these people. The
information that resulted from this conference was as follows:
This nation or tribe is very numerous, with whom the Esquimaux had been
continually at variance, a people who take every advantage of attacking
those who are not in a state to defend themselves; and though they had
promised friendship, had lately, and in the most treacherous manner,
butchered some of their people. As a proof of this circumstance, the
relations of the deceased showed us, that they had cut off their hair on
the occasion. They also declared their determination to withdraw all
confidence in future from the Esquimaux, and to collect themselves in a
formidable body, that they might be enabled to revenge the death of
their friends.
From their account, a strong party of Esquimaux occasionally ascends
this river, in large canoes, in search of flint stones, which they
employ to point their spears and arrows. They were now at their lake
due East from the spot where we then were, which was at no great
distance over land, where they kill the rein-deer, and that they would
soon begin to catch big fish for the winter stock. We could not,
however, obtain any information respecting the lake in the direction in
which we were. To the Eastward and Westward where they saw it, the ice
breaks up, but soon freezes again.
The Esquimaux informed them that they saw large canoes full of white men
to the Westward, eight or ten winters ago, from whom they obtained iron
in exchange for leather. The lake where they met these canoes, is
called by them _Belhoullay Toe_, or White Man’s Lake. They also
represented the Esquimaux as dressing like themselves. They wear their
hair short, and have two holes perforated, one on each side of the
mouth, in a line with the under lip, in which they place long beads that
they find in the lake. Their bows are somewhat different from those
used by the natives we had seen, and they employ slings from whence they
throw stones with such dexterity that they prove very formidable weapons
in the day of battle.
We also learned in addition from the natives, that we should not see any
more of their relations, as they had all left the river to go in pursuit
of rein-deer for their provisions, and that they themselves should
engage in a similar expedition in a few days. Rein-deer, bears,
wolverines, martens, foxes, hares, and white buffaloes are the only
quadrupeds in their country; and that the latter were only to be found
in the mountains to the Westward.
We proceeded with the line throughout the day, except two hours, when we
employed the sail. We encamped at eight in the evening. From the place
we quitted this morning, the banks of the river are well covered with
small wood, spruce, firs, birch, and willow. We found it very warm
during the whole of our progress.
