which we travelled, precluded us from bringing large quantities of
goods like the traders; that this had been fully explained to him
when he agreed to accompany us; and that, in consideration of his
not receiving his usual spring outfit, his debts to the Company had
been cancelled, and a present, much greater than any he had ever
received before, ordered to be got ready for his return. He was
further informed, that we were much disappointed in not receiving
any dried meat from him, an article indispensable for our summer
voyage, and which, he had led us to believe there was no difficulty
in procuring; and that, in fact, his complaints were so groundless,
in comparison with the real injury we sustained from the want of
supplies, that we were led to believe they were preferred solely for
the purpose of cloaking his own want of attention to the terms of
his engagement. He then shifted his grounds, and stated, that if
we endeavoured to make a voyage along the sea-coast we should
inevitably perish; and he advised us strongly against persisting in
the attempt. This part of his harangue being an; exact transcript
of the sentiments formerly expressed by our interpreters, induced us
to conclude that they had prompted his present line of conduct, by
telling him, that we had goods or rum concealed. He afterwards
received a portion of our dinner, in the manner he had been accustomed
to do, and seemed inclined to make up matters with us in
the course of the evening, provided we.added to the present offered
to him. Being told, however, that this was impossible, since we had
already offered him all the rum we had, and every article of goods we
eould spare from our own equipment, his obstinacy was a little
shaken, and he made some concessions, but deferred giving;a final
answer, until the arrival of Humpy, his elder brother. The young
men, however, did not choose to wait so long, and at night came
for the rum, which we judged to be a great step towards a reconciliation.
■ St. Germain,, the most intelligent of our two interpreters, and the
one who had most influence with the Indians, being informed that
their defection was, in a great measure, attributed to the unguarded
conversations he had held with them, and which he had in part
acknowledged, exerted himself much, on the following day, in
bringing about a change in their sentiments, and with some success.
The young men,'though they declined hunting, conducted themselves
with the same good humour and freedom as formerly. Akait-
cho being, as he said, ashamed to shew himself, kept close in his tent
all Odna yt.h e 24th, o'ne of the women who accompanied us from Athabasca,
was sent down to Fort Providence, under charge of the old
chief, who came some days before for medicine for his eyes. Ange-
lique and Koulante, the other two women, having families, preferred
accompanying the Indians during their summer hunt. On the 25th,
clothing, and other necessary articles, were issued to the Canadians
as their equipment for the ensuing voyage. Two or three blankets
some cloth, iron work, and trinkets were reserved for distribution
amongst the Esquimaux on the sea-coast. Laced dresses were given
to Augustus and Junius. It is impossible to describe the joy that
took possession of the latter on the receipt of this present. The
happy little fellow burst into extatic laughter, as he surveyed the
different articles of his gay habiliments*.
In the afternoon Humpy, the leader’s elder brother; Anncethai-
yazzeh, another of his brothers; and one of our guides, arrived with
the remainder of Akaitcho’s band; as also Long-legs, brother to the
Hook, with three of his band. There were now in the encampment,
thirty hunters, thirty-one women, and sixty children, in all one
hundred and twenty-one of the Copper-Indian or Bed-Knife tribe.
* These men kept their dresses, and delighted in them. An Indian Chief, on the
other hand, only appears once before the donor in the dress of ceremony which he
receives, and then transfers it' to be worn by some favourite in the tribe whom he desires
to reward byJ this “ robe of honour.” 2 R