two of his men who volunteered to stop. On returning to the
Indians' encampment in the morning, accompanied by the two who
had remained all night, on approaching the spot, the two
Indians manifested considerable disquietude, and after
exchanging a few glances with each other, broke from their
conductors and rushed into the woods. On arriving at the
encampment. Captain Buchan's poor fellows lay on the ground a
frightful spectacle, their heads being severed from their
bodies, and almost cut to pieces.

In the summer of 1818, a person who had established a salmon
fishery at the mouth of Exploits River, had a number of
articles stolen by the Indians; they consisted of a gold watch,
left accidentally in the boat, the boat's sails, some hatchets,
cordage, and iron implements. He therefore resolved on sending
an expedition into the country, in order to recover his
property.

The day before the party set off, I arrived accidentally at the
house, taking a survey of numerous bodies of woodcutters
belonging to the establishment with which I was connected. The
only time anyone can penetrate into the interior in the winter
season, the lakes and rivers being frozen over; even the Bay of
Exploits, though salt water, was then (the end of January)
frozen for sixty miles. Having proposed to accompany the party,
they immediately consented. Our equipments consisted of a
musket, bayonet, and hatchet; to each of the servants a pistol;
Mr. ---- and myself had, in addition, another pistol and a
dagger, and a double-barrelled gun, instead of a musket: each
carried a pair of snowshoes, a supply of eight pounds of
biscuit and a piece of pork, ammunition, and one quart of rum;
besides, we had a light sled and four dogs, who took it in
turns in dragging the sled, which contained a blanket for each
man, rum and other necessaries. We depended on our guns for a
supply of provisions, and at all times could meet with plenty
of partridges and hares, though there were few days we did not
kill a deer. The description of one day's journey will suffice
for all, there being but little variation. The snow was at this
time about eight feet deep.

On the morning of our departure we set off in good spirits up
the river, and after following its course for about twelve