260 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES
before and after the period of its arrival. On the present occasion
we could only treat them with a little flour and fat; these were
both considered as great luxuries, but still the feast was defective
from the want of rum, although we promised them a little when it
should arrive.
The early part of January proved mild, the thermometer rose to
20 above zero, and we were surprised by the appearance of a kind
of damp fog approaching very nearly to rain. The Indians expressed
their astonishment at this circumstance, and declared the present to
be one of the warmest winters they had ever experienced. Some of
them reported that it had actually rained in the woody parts of the
country. In the latter part of the month, however, the thermometer
again descended to « 49°, and the mean temperature for the month
proved to be 15°. 6. Owing to the fogs that obscured the sky the
aurora was visible only upon eighteen nights in the month.
On the 15th seven of our men arrived from Fort Providence with
two kegs of rum, one barrel of powder, sixty pounds of ball, two rolls
of tobacco, and some clothing. They had been twenty-one days on
their march from Slave Take, and the labour they underwent was
sufficiently evinced by their sledge-collars having worn out the
shoulders of their coats. Their loads weighed from sixty to ninety
pounds each, exclusive of their bedding and provisions, which at
starting must have been at least as much more. We were much
rejoiced at their arrival, and proceeded forthwith to pierce the spirit
cask, and issue to each of the household the portion of rum which
had been promised on the first day of the year. The spirits, which
were proof, were frozen, but after standing at the fire for some time
they flowed out of the consistency of honey. The temperature of
the liquid, even in this state, was so low as instantly to convert into
ice the moisture which condensed on the surface of the dram-glass.
The fingers also adhered to the glass, and would, doubtless, have
been speedily frozen had they been kept in contact with it; yet
each of the voyagers swallowed his dram without experiencing the
slightest inconvenience, or complaining of tooth-ach.
After the men had retired, an Indian, who had accompanied them
from Fort Providence, informed me that they had broached the cask
on their way up and spent two days in drinking. This instance of
breach of trust was excessively distressing to me; I felt for their
privations and fatigues, and was disposed to seize every opportunity
of alleviating .them, buFthis, combined with many instances of petty
dishonesty with regard to meat, shewed how little confidence could
be put in a Canadian voyager when food or spirits were in question.
We had been indeed made acquainted with their character on these
points; by the traders; but we thought that when they saw their
officers living under equal if not greater privations than themselves,
they would have been prompted by some degree of generous feeling
to abstain from those depredations which, under ordinary circumstances,
they would scarcely have blushed to be detected in.
As they were pretty well aware that such a circumstance, could not
long be concealed from us, one of them came the next morning with
an artful apology for their conduct. He stated, that as they knew
it was my-intention to treat them with a dram on the commencement
of the new year, they had helped themselves to a small quantity on
that day, trusting to my goodness for forgiveness; and being unwilling
to act harshly at this period, I did forgive them, after admonishing
them to be very circumspect in their future conduct.
The ammunition, and a small present of rum, were sent to
Akaitcho.
On the 18th Vaillant, the woodman, had the misfortune to break
his axe. This would have been a serious evil a few weeks sooner)
hut we had just received some others from Slave Lake.
On the 27th Mr. Wentzel and St. Germain arrived with the two
Esquimaux, Tattannceuck and Hceootcerock, (the belly and the ear.)
The English names, which were bestowed upon them at Fort