eiency in the quality of the guns, which hazards the lives of so many
poor Indians, requires the serious consideration of the principals of
the trading Companies.
On the 4th, at three in the morning, the party under the charge
of Dr. Richardson started. It consisted of fifteen voyagers, three of
them conducting dog sledges, Ealdhead and Basil, two Indian
hunters with their wives, Akaiyazzeh a sick Indian and his wife,
together with Angélique and Roulante ; so that the party amounted
to twenty-three exclusive of children.
The burdens of the men were about eighty pounds each, exclusive
of their personal baggage, which amounted to nearly as much more.
Most of them dragged their loads upon sledges, but a few preferred
carrying them on their backs. They set off in high spirits.
After breakfast the Indians struck their tents, and the women, the
boys, and the old men who had to drag sledges, took their departure.
It was three P.M., however, before Akaitcho and the hunters left
us. We issued thirty balls to the leader, and twenty to each of the
hunters and guides, with a proportionate quantity of powder, and
gave them directions to make all the provision they could on their
way to Point Lake. I then desired Mr. Wentzel to inform Akaitcho,
in the presence of the other Indians, that I wished a deposit of
provision to be made at this place previous to next September, as a
resource should we return this way. He and the guides not only
promised to see this done, but suggested that it would be more
secure if placed in the cellar, or in Mr. Wentzel’s room. The Dog-
ribs, they said, would respect any thing that was in the house, as
knowing it to belong to the white people. At the close of this conversation
Akaitcho exclaimed with a smile, “I see now that you have
really no goods left, (the rooms and stores being completely stripped,)
and therefore I shall not trouble you any more, but use my best
endeavours to prepare provision for you, and I think if the animals
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