Soon After We Had
Encamped Our Indian Guide Rejoined Us; He Had Remained Behind The Day
Before Without Consulting Us To Accompany A Friend On A Hunting
Excursion.
On his return he made no endeavour to explain the reason of
his absence but sat down coolly and began to prepare his supper.
This
behaviour made us sensible that little dependence is to be placed on the
continuance of an Indian guide when his inclination leads him away.
Early the next morning we sent forward the Indian and a Canadian to
apprise the gentleman in charge of Pierre au Calumet of our approach; and
after breakfast the rest of the party proceeded along the river for that
station which we reached in the afternoon. The senior partner of the
North-West Company in the Athabasca department, Mr. John Stuart, was in
charge of the post. Though he was quite ignorant until this morning of
our being in the country we found him prepared to receive us with great
kindness and ready to afford every information and assistance agreeably
to the desire conveyed in Mr. Simon McGillivray's circular letter. This
gentleman had twice traversed this continent and reached the Pacific by
the Columbia River; he was therefore fully conversant with the different
modes of travelling and with the obstacles that may be expected in
passing through unfrequented countries. His suggestions and advice were
consequently very valuable to us but, not having been to the northward of
the Great Slave Lake, he had no knowledge of that line of country except
what he had gained from the reports of Indians.
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