have but little more than half their complement of men, and are mostly composed of drafts from the Irish Brigade sent three or four years ago to Halifax, of course not so well adapted for the protection required, as a full and complete regiment from England, staunch and well-affected.

I have thus ventured to offer my opinion upon the public situation of affairs in this island, and have only to regret in common with the real well-wishers to its prosperity, that by the triennial mode of appointing governors we are to be deprived of the aid of your influence and counsel, at a time when from your real knowledge of the island and its internal affairs, they might be of such essential service.

I have the honour to be, &c.

To the Hon. Vice-Admiral Waldegrave, &c. &c. &c.

J. OGDEN.

APPENDIX IV.

SUBSTANCE OF THE NARRATIVE OF WILLIAM CULL, OF FOGO, WHO WAS EMPLOYED BY GOVERNOR HOLLOWAY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION OF THE NATIVE INDIANS OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

ON January 1, 1810, William Cull, John Cull, Joseph Mew, John Waddy, William Waddy, Thomas Lewis, James Foster, and two of the Mic-Mac Indians, set out upon the river Exploits, then frozen over, in quest of the residence of the native Indians, in the interior of the country. On the fourth day, having travelled about sixty miles, they discovered a building on the bank of the river, about forty or fifty feet long and nearly as wide. It was constructed of wood, and covered with rinds of trees, and skins of deer. In this building they found, in quantity, about one hundred deer, some part of which from its extreme fatness, must have been obtained early in the fall. The fat venison was in junks, entirely divested of bone, and stowed in boxes made of birch and spruce rinds, each box containing about two hundred weight. The tongues and hearts of the deer were stowed in the middle of the package. The lean venison, or that more recently killed, was in quarters and stowed in bulk, some part of it, with the skin on. In this storehouse they saw three lids of tin tea-kettles, which William Cull believes to be the same given by Governor Gambier to the old Indian woman taken in the second year of his government. They also found several marten, beaver, and deer skins, some of which were dressed after the fashion of our own furriers. On the opposite bank of the river stood a second storehouse,

APPENDIX IV.

*

481

considerably larger than the former, but they did not examine it, the ice being broken and the passage across attended with some risk. They believe the width of the Exploits in this place to be nearly two hundred yards. In exchange for three small beaver-skins, and nine martens', they left one pair of swanskin trowsers, one pair of yarn stockings, three cotton handkerchiefs, three clasped knives, two hatchets, some small bits of printed cotton, needles, pins, thread and twine. They saw two of the natives on their way to this storehouse, but unfortunately they discovered the party and retired. The two storehouses above mentioned, are opposite to each other, and from the margin of the river on each side, there extended for some miles into the country a high fence for the purpose of leading the deer to the river as these animals travel south or north. Along the margin of the river in the neighbourhood of these storehouses were erected extensive fences on each side, in order to prevent the deer, when they had taken the water from landing. It appears that as soon as a company of deer, few or many, enter the river in order to pass south or north, the Indians, who are upon the watch, launch their canoes, and the parallel fences preventing the re-landing of the deer, they fall an easy prey to their pursuers, and the buildings above mentioned are depôts for their reception. From these storehouses the Indians occasionally draw their supplies in the winter. Cull and his companions conjecture that the residence of the Indians could not be very remote from these magazines, but want of bread, and some difference of opinion among the party, prevented them from exploring further.

* In the fall, and in the beginning of winter, the deer travel south, and in the spring they return to the north.

APPENDIX V.

EXTRACTS FROM THE NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN BUCHAN'S JOURNEY UP THE RIVER EXPLOITS, IN SEARCH OF THE NATIVE INDIANS, IN THE WINTER OF 1810-1811.

JAN. 12, 1811.-On the eve of this date my arrangements were closed, and every necessary preparation made to advance into the interior, for the purpose of endeavouring to accomplish the grand object of your orders, relative to the native Indians of this island. For this service I employed William Cull and Matthew Hughter, as guides, attended by twenty-three men and a boy of the crew of his Majesty's schooner, and Thomas Taylor, a man in Mr. Miller's employ, and well acquainted with this part of the country.

Jan. 13.-Wind NW., blowing strong; at 7 A. M. commenced our march; in crossing the arm from the schooner to Little Peter's Point, which is two miles, we found it extremely cold, with the snow drifting and the sledges heavy to haul from the sloppiness of the ice, but having rounded the Point we became sheltered from the wind until reaching Wigwam Point, which is two miles further up on the north side; here the river turns to the northward; a mile further on is Mr. Miller's upper salmon station; the winter crew have their house on the south shore. 3 P. M., have reached the remains of a house occupied by William Cull last winter; we put up for the night, our distance made good being but eight miles in as many hours travelling. The night proved so intensely cold, with light snow at times, that none of our party could refresh themselves with sleep.

Jan. 14.-Wind NW., with sharp piercing weather. Renewed our journey with the dawn, not sorry to leave a place in which we had passed so intolerable a night; having proceeded on two miles, we came to the Nutt Islands, four in number, situated in the middle of that river; a mile above these is the first rattle or small waterfall; as far as the eye could discern up the river, nothing but ridgy ice appeared; its aspect almost precluded the possibility of conveying the sledges along; determined to surmount all practical difficulties, I proceeded on with the guides to choose among the excavations those most favourable. 31 P. M., put up on the north side, and fenced round the fireplace for shelter. This day's laborious journey I compute to be seven miles; the crew from excessive fatigue, and the night somewhat milder than last, had some sleep. Left a cask, with bread, pork, cocoa, and sugar for two days.

Jan. 15.-Blowing fresh from WNW. to NNW. with snow at times; the river winding from W. to NW. At 3 P. M. stopped on the north bank for the night, one mile above the Rattling Brook which empties itself into this river; on the south side, on the western bank of its entrance, we discovered a house which I observed to be one that belonged to the Canadians who had resided at Wigwam Point. This day's journey exhibited the same difficulties as yesterday, having frequently to advance a party to cut and level in some degree the ridges, to admit the sledges to pass from one gulf to another, and to fill up the hollows to prevent them from being precipitated so violently as to be dashed to pieces; but notwithstanding the utmost care, the lashings, from the constant friction, frequently gave way, and in the evening most of the sledges had to undergo some repair and fresh packing. Fenced the fireplace in at supper the people appeared in good spirits; the weather being milder, fatigue produced a tolerable night's rest. This day's distance is estimated to be seven miles.

Jan. 16.-Strong breezes from NNW. with sharp frost. Began our journey with the day; several sledges gave way, which delayed us a considerable time; at 11 A. M. discovered