Journals · Chapter
II explained
The expedition continues through the lake and river system, encountering Red Knife Indians, trading for furs, and navigating treacherous waters with the help of a native guide.
What happens
The expedition continues through the lake and river system, encountering Red Knife Indians, trading for furs, and navigating treacherous waters with the help of a native guide. The party faces fog, ice, and difficult passages before finally discovering the correct river channel.
Themes in this chapter
Colonial Trade and Economics
The chapter details the exchange of beaver and marten skins for rum and other goods, highlighting the economic dynamics of the fur trade.
Indigenous Cultures and Encounters
Interactions with the Red Knife Indians, including hiring a guide and learning about their customs and relations with other tribes.
Survival and Hardship
The expedition faces fog, ice, violent storms, and navigational challenges, testing the endurance of the crew.
Geography and the Natural World
Detailed descriptions of the lake, river channels, islands, and the Horn Mountains, as well as observations of wildlife like swans, geese, and moose.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator leads the expedition, making observations, trading with Indians, and navigating the river.
- M. Le Roux
Purchases beaver and marten skins from the Red Knife Indians.
- The English Chief
Collects debts from the Indians and exchanges skins for rum and other goods.
- Red Knife Indians
Provide guidance and trade furs; one Indian is hired as a guide for the expedition.
- The Chipewyans
Mentioned as having previously pillaged the Red Knife Indians.
- Mr. Mackenzie
Addressed in a letter written by the narrator.
Key passages
“M. Le Roux purchased of these Indians upwards of eight packs of good beaver and marten skins; and there were not above twelve of them qualified to kill beaver.”
M. Le Roux bought over eight packs of high-quality beaver and marten skins from the Indians, even though only about twelve of them were skilled enough to hunt beaver.
Highlights the efficiency of the Red Knife Indians in fur trapping despite their small numbers.
“Hitherto, they said, the Chipewyans always pillaged them; or, at most, gave little or nothing for the fruits of their labour, which had greatly discouraged them; and that, in consequence of this treatment, they had no motive to pursue the beaver, but to obtain a sufficient quantity of food and raiment.”
The Red Knife Indians complained that the Chipewyans had been robbing them or paying very little for their furs, which had demoralized them so much that they only hunted beaver to get enough food and clothing.
Reveals the exploitative trade relationships between Indigenous groups.
“It is a very curious and extraordinary circumstance, that land covered with spruce pine, and white birch, when laid waste by fire, should subsequently produce nothing but poplars, where none of that species of tree were previously to be found.”
It is remarkable that land once covered with spruce and birch trees, after being burned, grows only poplars, even though no poplars were there before.
Shows the narrator's scientific curiosity about ecological succession.