, 1871-03-30

On the morning of the fourteenth day
We descrir6 several black objects ahead
ich we al ffsi thught were rocks but
we soon saw that they were canors filed
with natives. We trird to avoid taem, as
we w.re doubtful a. 10 the treatment VIZ
would receive al their hands but il was
of 40 use. There were about twenty Ca
noes, containing each from fifty to hun
died savages. They soon surrounded US,
aud as W. had no means If resistance, we
all thought our time had come. The pa-
lives were I'll arm,d d with guns, which
they pointed at us. jubbrring the while
like monkeys. They came on board of
our boat took what they could fmd and,
putting US in tow, padded for the land.
We soon fuuni out that they intended to
take us to th -ir village. As it was use-
less to resist, we quietly esgued ourselves
to our fate; but, though uncx pressed.
each one wished himself once more safely
on board the old Mary and Marths.
About twely- hours after our capture, the
indians landed rs at their viii ge, called
.ly Il en- Cny>thy-mer lie Whole
tribe came down and pulled tie cances
and boat up high and dry. The old chief
who ca. tured us made quite a speech.
VIII ch seemed t. int rest them very much,
and as he loin,ed at us seyeral lines dur
ing his remarks, we felt satisfied we were
the unfortunate sui ljecs Of his discourse ;
bat whether hr was friendly towsrd Us, or
otherwise. We were unable to know. After
the harrai que, several of ihs chitfs
hrouSht papers 10 us to read. THESE pa
psrs had been given to them by Hudson
Bay traders and captains OF vrsstls which
had visited them. These gave us great
relief. aSthry were recommendations FIR
good behavior. Thos-, from the Hudson
Bay traders seemed to be highly prized.
After reading the papers, We conrluded 10
| ourstl,es . King George" or Eng
lshmen. One If the papers mad been
given at Fort Simpsoi. a Hudson Bay
trading post on the m.inland, and We
mad them understand, if they would
take us there they would get hundreds Of
/. blankets and plenty ofadm. This sremed
TO please them very much. AMI they
made signs, that when the weather was
good they would take US there. We
%
had dIy fish and potatoes to eat and mats
to sleep on. and we were son as con-
tented ns though we we've in the midst of
rivi IL ,tion. The old chief seemed to
take qniIe an interest in us, aud warned
thr trbe against rnolcsting us; but on
several occasions there wrIe efforts m de
by some of lhe tribe to induce the chief
to allow chem 10 kill us, which on one oc-
casion nearly prevailed. We were semi
for AID intrrrngated by signs as to tile
amount of blankets ami rum they would
get for us. We made item unters and
that they could set their own piice when.
they got to the fort. and we would see
thai they GOT it. don't kaow what we
w,,ull have done if one of the tribe had
not been able to speak and understand a
little English. Alter this we had no
more alarms, but waited patiently for the
season Of fine weather, when they would
take us TO the fort. We remained with
them about three mouths, or until about
the first Of October. when our captors
gave us to undeI stand that they would
take us to Fort Simpson. The canoes
we're launched aud provi>ioned, and as The
Indians had taken everything from US but
pair Of pants and shirt each, and in>
deed, VIZ had some trouble in retaining
evrn that much apparel, we were soon
ready and upon the voyage. Thrrs were
six camoes fitted ou. TO lake us-oile ofns
in EAT h canoe. Ne wefe three days in
reaching Fort Simpson. where We were
very kindly received Ly Mr.. Mcneil, the
chief trader. We told him that we had
been shipwrrcked, and that we had not
seen anything OF the o her hoats since we
lift The wreck, aud also. as he could per-
ctive, that We had fallen into th.. hands Of
the natives aud had BEEN brought by them
to be reasoned. Tie warm hearted gen.
tleman accepted the whnle of our story as
truth. and told us not to have anything 10
sayto the natives, as lie would trade with
them, which e did, giving them blankets
and dtter goods, Yet resrrving a large
poriion of the rausnm until they should
bring hack the bnAt aud articles stolen.
from us. Generally the Iniiens were not
satisfied and there was considel able mur-
muring. Mr. Mcneil made us 90 into
the fort, fearing hey might shoot as.
That night we were put on board the
Hud on By Company's brig Mary Dare,
wtieh was in the harbor ready Tor sea,
aud bound to VrcIoria-lhrn nothing bnt
a trading pot Of the company. Luckily,
the captain secreted us in the held, for