# Endnotes explained — Journals > Chapter companion for Journals by Alexander Mackenzie. ## What happens This chapter contains the endnotes for the book, providing explanatory notes, corrections, and additional context for various passages in the main text. Topics include the origin of the name 'Slave Indians,' the use of watape in canoe construction, a medical anecdote involving Turlington's balsam, the loss of a navigation book, and a critique of Mr. Meares' geographical claims, among others. ## Themes in this chapter ### Exploration and Discovery The endnotes discuss geographical corrections and the pursuit of a northwest passage, highlighting the exploratory nature of the voyage. ### Colonial Trade and Economics References to the fur trade, transportation of goods over vast distances, and the exchange of rum for guns illustrate the economic aspects of colonialism. ### Indigenous Cultures and Encounters Notes on native superstitions, the use of watape, and the naming of the Slave Indians provide insight into indigenous cultures and European encounters. ## Character check-ins ### Sir Alexander Mackenzie Referenced in the endnotes as the author of the voyage and the one who named Mackenzie's Outlet. ### Captain Cook Mentioned in relation to his mistaken observation about human teeth on sea-otter canoes. ### Mr. Meares Criticized for his erroneous claims about a northwest passage and an inland sea. ### The Chipewyans Referenced as the Knisteneaux who drove the Slave Indians from their original country. ### The Indians Mentioned in the context of superstition and the medical cure using Turlington's balsam. ### Jupiter Not directly mentioned in the provided excerpts; omitted. ## Key lines > The Slave Indians, having been driven from their original country by their enemies, the Knisteneaux, along the borders of this part of the river, it received that title, though it by no means involves the idea of servitude, but was given to these fugitives as a term of reproach, that denoted more than common savageness. The Slave Indians were displaced by the Knisteneaux, and the river was named after them as a derogatory term implying savagery, not actual slavery. _Explains the origin of the river's name._ > Watape is the name given to the divided roots of the spruce fir, which the natives weave into a degree of compactness that renders it capable of containing a fluid. The different parts of the bark canoes are also sewed together with this kind of filament. Watape refers to the split roots of spruce fir that natives weave into a waterproof material used to sew bark canoes. _Describes a traditional native material for canoe construction._ > This man had conceived an idea, that the people with whom he had been at war, had thrown medicine at him, which had caused his present complaint, and that he despaired of recovery. The natives are so superstitious, that this idea alone was sufficient to kill him. Of this weakness I took advantage; and assured him, that if he would never more go to war with such poor defenceless people, I would cure him. To this proposition he readily consented, and on my giving him medicine, which consisted of Turlington’s balsam, mixed in water, I declared that it would lose its effect, if he was not sincere in the promise that he made me. In short, he actually recovered, was true to his engagements, and on all occasions manifested his gratitude to me. A native man believed he was cursed by enemies and was dying of despair. The narrator exploited this superstition, promising a cure if he stopped attacking defenseless people. He gave him Turlington's balsam, and the man recovered and kept his promise. _Anecdote illustrating native superstition and European manipulation._ > As Captain Cook has mentioned, that the people of the seacoast adorned their canoes with human teeth, I was more particular in my inquiries; the result of which was, the most satisfactory proof that he was mistaken; but his mistake arose from the very great resemblance there is between human teeth and those of the sea-otter. Captain Cook mistakenly thought coastal natives used human teeth to decorate canoes, but they actually used sea-otter teeth, which look very similar. _Corrects a factual error by Captain Cook._ > Mr. Meares was undoubtedly wrong in the idea, so earnestly insisted on by him, in his voyage, that there was northwest practicable passage to the southward of sixty-nine degrees and an half of latitude, as I flatter myself has been proved by my former voyage. Nor can I refrain from expressing my surprise at his assertion, that there was an inland sea or archipelago of great extent between the islands of Nootka and the main, about the latitude where I was at this time. Indeed I have been informed that Captain Grey, who commanded an American vessel, and on whose authority he ventured this opinion, denies that he had given Mr. Meares any such information. Besides, the contrary is indubitably proved by Captain Vancouver’s survey, from which no appeal can be made. Mr. Meares wrongly claimed there was a northwest passage south of 69.5° latitude, and also asserted an inland sea near Nootka. Captain Grey denied providing such information, and Vancouver's survey disproves it. _Refutes Mr. Meares' geographical claims._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/journals_se/chapters/endnotes - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/journals_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/journals_se/chapters