singed skin. The night was stormy, and there was a heavy fall of
snow. The next day he became still more dejected. About eleven,
Hepburn, who had gone out for wood, came in with the intelligence
that a party appeared upon the river. The room was instantly
swept, and in compliance with the prejudices of the Indians, every
scrap of skin was carefully removed out of sight j for these simple
people imagine, that burning deer-skin renders them unsuccessful in
hunting. The party proved to be Crooked-Foot, Thooee-yorre, and
the Fop, with the wives of the two latter dragging provisions. They
were accompanied by Benoit, one of our own men.
We were rejoiced to learn, by a note from Mr. Back, dated
November 11th, that he and his companions had so recruited their
strength that they were preparing to proceed to Fort Providence.
Adam recovered his spirits on the arrival of the Indians, and even
walked about the room with an appearance of strength and activity
that surprised us all. As it was of consequence to get amongst the
rein-deer hefore our present supply should fail we made preparations
for quitting Fort Enterprise the next day; and, accordingly, at an
early hour, on the I6th, having united in thanksgiving and prayer,
the whole party left the house after breakfast. Our feelings on
quitting the Fort where we had formerly enjoyed much comfort, if
not happiness, and, latterly, experienced a degree of misery scarcely
to be paralleled, may be more easily conceived than described. The
Indians treated us with the utmost tenderness, gave us their snow-
shoes, and walked without themselves, keeping by our sides, that
they might lift us when we fell. We descended Winter Biver, and,
about noon, crossed the head of Bound-Bock Lake, distant about
three miles from the house, where we were obliged to halt, as
Dr. Bichardson was unable to proceed. The swellings in his limbs
rendered him by much the weakest of the party. The Indians prepared
our encampment, cooked for us, and fed us as if we had been
children; evincing humanity that would have done honour to the
most civilized people. The night was mild, and fatigue made us
sleep soundly.
From this period to the 26th of November, we gradually improved,
through their kindness and attention; and on that day arrived in
safety at the abode of our chief and companion, Akaitcho. We were
received by the party assembled in the leader’s tent, with looks of
compassion, and profound silence, which lasted about a quarter of an
hour, and by which they meant to express their condolence for our
sufferings. The conversation did not begin until we had tasted
food. The Chief, Akaitcho, shewed us the most friendly hospitality,
and all sorts of personal attention, even to cooking for us with his own
hands, an office which he never performs for himself. Annoethai-
yazzeh and Humpy, the Chief’s two brothers, and several of our
hunters, with their families, were encamped here, together with a
number of old men and women. In the course of the day we were
visited by every person of the band, not merely from curiosity, but a
desire to evince their tender sympathy in our late distress. We
learned that Mr. Back, with St. Germain and Belanger, had gone to
Fort Providence ; and that, previous to his departure, he had left a
letter in a cache of pounded meat, which we had missed two days
ago. As we supposed that this letter might acquaint us with his
intentions more fully than we could gather from the Indians, through
our imperfect knowledge of their language, Augustus the Esquimaux,
whom we found here in perfect health, and an Indian lad,
were despatched to bring it.
We found several of the Indian families in great affliction, for the
loss of three of their relatives who had been drowned in the August
preceding, by the upsetting of a canoe near Fort Enterprise. They
bewailed the melancholy accident every morning and evening, by
repeating the names of the persons in a loud singing tone, which