own wishes than consistent with its real meaning. "Our father," said
they, "tells us we eat out of the same dish with the Algonquins;--he
means that we have an equal right to the hunting-grounds." They
proceeded, accordingly, to avail themselves of the supposed privilege.
The consequence was a very violent quarrel, in which Government was
ultimately obliged to interfere.

The Indians informed us, this spring, of a dreadful murder that had
been committed in the early part of the winter by some of the natives
of Hudson's Bay. The particulars of this tale of blood I since learned
from an individual that escaped from the massacre. The Indians
attached to the posts established along the shores of Hudson's Bay are
comparatively civilized; most of them speak English, and are employed
as voyageurs by the Company. Few or no precautions are taken at these
posts to guard against treachery; the gates are seldom shut, and some
of the posts are destitute of palisades or defence of any kind. Of
this description was the post where the catastrophe occurred which I
am about to relate.

The post of Hannah Bay is situated about sixty miles to the north
of Moose Factory, and was at this time under the charge of a Mr.
Corrigal. His establishment consisted of two or three half-breeds, and
an Indian who had been brought up by the whites. He and some of the
men had families. In the course of the winter five Indians came in
with their "hunts," and agreeably to their usual practice encamped
close by. Those Indians are designated "Home Guards,"--a term
generally applied to the Indians attached to a trading post; they hunt
in winter at a convenient distance from the post, and are employed in
summer as voyageurs, or in performing any other necessary duty.
Notwithstanding their thus being frequently in company with white men