f property for the
new post, remained alone. This was the opportunity the Indians sought
for, and they did not fail to take advantage of it. The unfortunate
man had been in the habit of walking daily by the river side, and was
taking his usual promenade the day after the departure of his men,
when he was shot down by two of the assassins. They then carried his
body to his room and left it, and his blood still marks the floor.
The men, altogether unconscious of the fate that awaited them, came
paddling toward the landing-place, singing a voyageur's song, and just
as the canoe touched the shore a volley of bullets was discharged at
them, which silenced them for ever. They were all killed on the spot.
The post has remained desolate ever since. Fort Dunvegan was also
abandoned for some years, which reduced the natives to the greatest
distress.

As soon as intelligence was received of the catastrophe, a party of
half-breeds and Crees, under the command of one of the clerks, was
fitted out in order to inflict deserved punishment on the murderers;
but just as the party had got on the trail, and within a short
distance of the camp, they received orders from the superintendent to
return.

These orders were no doubt dictated by feelings of humanity, as Mr.
McIntosh had learned that some Indians, who were not concerned in the
murder, were in the same camp, and he was apprehensive the innocent
might be involved in the same punishment with the guilty. The most
of them, however, were afterwards starved to death; and the country
having been abandoned by the Company, gave the natives occasion to
remark, that the measure was dictated more by fear of them than by
motives of humanity.

The Rocky Mountains came in view on the 8th of October, and we reached
the portage bearing their name on the 10th, the crossing of which took
us eight days, being fully thirteen miles in length, and excessively
bad road, leading sometimes through swamps and morasses, then
ascending and descending steep: hills, and for at least one-third of
the distance so obstructed by fallen trees as to render it all but
impassable. I consider the passage of this portage the most laborious
duty the Company's servants have to perform in any part of the
territory; and, as the voyageurs say, "He that passes it with his
share of a canoe's cargo may call himself a man."

In the passage we came upon a large camp of Tsekanies, Mr. Eraser's
customers. Their dialect is simila