a measured and dignified step, looking neither to the right nor to
the left, at the persons who had assembled on the beach to witness
his debarkation, but preserving the same immovability of countenance
until he reached the hall, and was introduced to the officers.
When he had smoked his pipe, drank a small portion of spirits and
water himself, and issued a glass to each of his companions, who
had seated themselves on the floor, he commenced his harangue, by
mentioning the circumstances that led to his agreeing to accompany
the Expedition, an engagement which he was quite prepared to
fulfil. He was rejoiced, he said, to see such great chiefs on his
lands ; his tribe were poor, but they loved white men who had been
then' benefactors; and he hoped that our visit would be productive
of much good to them. The report which preceded our arrival, he
said, had caused much grief to him. It was at first rumoured that
a great medicine chief accompanied us, who was able to restore the
dead to life; at this he rejoiced; the prospect of again seeing his
departed relatives had enlivened his spirits, but his first communication
with Mr. Wentzel had removed these vain hopes, and he felt
as if his friends had a second time been torn from him. H e now
wished to be informed exactly of the nature of our expedition.
In reply to this speech, which I understood had been prepared
for many days, I endeavoured to explain the objects of our mission
in a manner best calculated to ensure his exertions in our service.
With this view, I told him that we were sent out by the greatest
chief in the world, who was the sovereign also of the trading companies
in the country; that he was the friend of peace, and had the
interest of every nation at heart. Having learned that his children
in the north, were much in want of articles of merchandise, in consequence
of the extreme length and difficulty of the present route;
he had sent us to search for a passage by the sea, which if found,
would enable large vessels to transport great quantities of goods
morg easily to their lands. That we had not come for the purpose