142 NEWFOUNDLAND . some few places a little distance from the shore, were known to Europeans. The Indians alone were well acquainted with the inland parts. Some furriers, who cared little for the natural condition of the country, and who were too ignorant to describe it, have occa¬ sionally, during winter, proceeded on the ice a consi¬ derable distance up the rivers in quest of beavers and other wild animals. From these men nothing satis¬ factory could be ascertained or expected; and their character was, in other respects, too suspicious to place any reliance on what they stated, particularly in regard to the Red Indiansj it being well known c 5 that they_shot these unfortunate savages with ash much indifference as if they were red foxes. Mr Cormack , in 1822, accompanied by Indians, accomplished a journey across the island, from to George's Bay. This was a most arduous and perilous undertaking, when the rugged, broken configuration of the country is considered. He pro¬ ceeded from , in Smith's Sound, , early in September, accompanied by one Mic-mac Indian, and directed his course across the country by a pocket compass. The greatest obstacles to his travel¬ ling were the innumerable lakes. To walk round them was indeed a task of no ordinary difficulty. Being the first European who discovered them, he adopted the usual right of giving them names; many of which he styled after those of his friends. He en¬ gaged another Indian, about the centre of the island, to accompany him ; and after enduring much fatigue,