The rest of the nation were with the Hook on the lower part of the
Obpper-Mine River.
Annocthai-yazzeh is remarkable amongst the Indians for the
number of his descendants, he has eighteen children living by two
wives, of whom sixteen were at the Fort at this time.
In the evening we had another formidable -conference. The
former complaints were reiterated, and we parted about midnight,
without any satisfactory answer to my questions, as to when Akaitcho
would proceed towards the River, and where he meant to make
provision for our march. I was somewhat pleased, however, to find,
that Humpy and Anncethai-yazzeh censured their brother’s conduct,
and accused him of avarice.
On the 26th the canoes were removed from the places where they
had been deposited, as we judged that the heat of the atmosphere
was now so great, as to admit of their being repaired, without risk
of cracking the bark. We were rejoiced to find that two of them
had .suffered little injury from the frost during the winter. The
bark of the third was considerably rent, but it was still capable of
repair.
1 The Indians sat in conference in their tents all the morning; and
in the afternoon, came into the house charged with fresh matter for
discussion.
Soon after they had seated themselves, and the room was filled
with the customary volume of smoke from their calumets, the
goods which had been laid aside, were again presented to the
leader; but he at once refused to distribute so small a quantity
amongst his men, and complained that there were neither blankets,
kettles, nor daggers, amongst them; and, in the warmth of his
anger, he charged Mr. Wentzel with having advised the distribution
of all our goods to the Canadians, and thus defrauding the
Indians of what was intended for them. Mr. Wentzel, of course,
immediately repelled this injurious accusation, and reminded
Akaitcho again, that he had been told, on engaging to accompany us,
that he was not to expect any goods until his return. This he
denied with an effrontery that surprised us all, when Humpy, who
was present at our first interview at Fort Providence, declared that
he heard us say, that none could be taken for the supply of the
Indians on the voyage; and the first guide added, “ I do not expect
any thing here, I have promised to accompany the white people
to the sea, and I will, therefore, go, confidently relying upon rer
ceiving the stipulated reward on my return.” Akaitcho did not
seem prepared to hear such declarations from his brothers, and instantly
changing the subject, began to descant upon the treatment
he had received from the traders in his concerns with them,
with an asperity of language that bore more the appearance of
menace than complaint. I immediately refused to discuss this topic,
as foreign to our present business, and desired Akaitcho to recall
to memory, that he had told me on our first meeting, that .he
considered me the father of every person attached to the expedition,
in which character it was surely my duty to provide for the
comfort and safety of the Canadians, as well as the Indians. , The
voyagers, he knew, had a long journey to perform, and would, in
all probability, be exposed to much suffering from cold, on a coast
destitute of wood; and, therefore, required a greater provision of
clothing than was necessary for the Indians, who, by returning immediately
from the mouth of the river, would reach Fort Providence
in August, and obtain their promised rewards. Most of the
Indians appeared to assent to this argument, but Akaitcho said, “ I
perceive the traders have deceived you, you should have.,brought
more goods, but I do not blame you. I then told him, that I
had brought from England only ammunition, tobacco, and spirits;
and that, being ignorant what other articles the Indians required,
we were dependent on the traders for supplies; but he must be
aware, that every endeavour had been used on our parts to procure
s R 2