them, as was evinced by Mr. Back’s journey to Fort Chipewyan.
With respect to the ammunition and tobacco, we had been as much
disappointed as themselves in not receiving them, but this was to
be attributed to the neglect of those to whom they had been intrusted.
This explanation seemed to satisfy him. After some minutes
of reflection, his countenance became more cheerful, and he
made inquiry, whether his party might go to either of the trading
posts they chose on their return, and whether the Hudson’s Bay
Company were rich, for they had been represented to him as a poor
people? I answered him, that we really knew nothing about the
wealth of either Company, having never concerned ourselves with
trade, but that all the traders appeared to us to be respectable. Our
thoughts, I added, are fixed solely on the accomplishment of the objects
for which we came to the country. Our success depends much
on your furnishing us with provision speedily, that we may have all
the summer to work; and if we succeed, a ship will soon bring goods
in abundance to the mouth of the Copper-Mine Biver. J The Indians
talked together for a short time after this conversation, and then the
leader made an application for two or three kettles and some blankets,
to be added to the present to his young men; we were unable
to spare him any kettles, but the officers promised to give a blanket
each from their own beds.
Dinner was now brought in, and relieved us for a time from their
importunity. The leading men, as usual, received each a portion
from the table. When the conversation was resumed, the chief
renewed his solicitations for goods, but it was now too palpable to be
mistaken, that he aimed at getting every thing that he possibly could,
and leaving us without the means of making any presents to the
Esquimaux, or other Indians we might meet. I resolved, therefore,
on steadily refusing every request; and when .he perceived that he
could extort nothing more, he rose in an angry manner, and addressing
his young men, said: “ There are too few goods for me to distribute
; those that mean to follow the white people to the sea may
tcikTch tihse wma.s an incautious speech, as it rendered it necessary for his
party to display their sentiments. The guides, and most of the hunters,
declared their readiness to go, and came forward to receive a
portion of the present, which was no inconsiderable assortment.
This relieved a weight of anxiety from my mind, and I did not much
regard the leader’s retiring in a very dissatisfied mood.
The hunters then applied to Mr. Wentzel for ammunition, that
they might hunt in the morning, and it was cheerfully given to
The officers and men amused themselves at prison-bars, and other
Canadian games till two o’clock in the morning, and we were happy
to observe the Indians sitting in groups enjoying the sport. We
were desirous of filling up the leisure moments of the Canadians
with amusements, not only for the purpose of enlivening their spirits
but also to prevent them from conversing upon our differences with
the Indians, which they must have observed. The exercise was also
in a peculiar manner serviceable to Mr. Hood. Ever ardent in his
pursuits, he had, through close attention to his drawings and other
avocations, confined himself too much to the house m winter, and his
health was impaired by his sedentary habits. I could only take the
part of a spectator in these amusements, being still lame from the
huTrth feo rsmuner nlyo wal lsuadnekd f otor. so short a time below the horizon, that there
was more fight at midnight, than we enjoyed on some days at noon
in Othne twhien t2e7rt-hti mthee. hunters brought in two rein-deer. Many ot the
Indians attended divine service this day, and were attentive spectators
of our addresses to the Almighty.
On the 28th I had a conversation with Long-legs, whose arrival two
days before has been mentioned. I acquainted him with the objects