SW_BYM1806_011

upon their arrival there, they found that all thechiefs, and most of the hunters, had dispersed.And, it not appearing practicable to convenethem in a suitable manner for a conference atthat time, they returned without accomplishingthe object of their visit. They however sawdivers hunters and others, who appeared to bewell disposed to receive the instruction andassistance, with which Friends proposed to fur-nish them. The committee being still deficient in theinformation necessary to enable them to pro-ceed with safety, in so important an undertaking,one of their number offered, in the fall of thisyear, to undertake a visit to the Indians, for thepurpose of obtaining a more satisfactory know-ledge respecting them; and his proposal beingapproved, he was encouraged to proceed assoon as might be practicable. Accordingly, inthe spring of 1797, he, with two others of thecommittee, who became concerned to unitewith him, made them a visit; in the course ofwhich, having passed by a number of theirhunting camps, and several of their towns, theyhad large opportunity of discovering their situ-ation. Often exposed to the inclemency of theseasons, with a very precarious, and often avery scanty supply of food and clothing, they