OF THE POLAR SEA. 



283 



the commencement of the new year is the rejoicing season of the 

 Canadians, when they are generally intoxicated a few days. I post- 

 poned making any demand till this time of festivity should cease ; 

 but on the same day I went over to the Hudson's Bay Fort, and de- 

 liver ed Lieutenant Franklin's letters to Mr. Simpson. If they were 

 astonished at one side to see me, the amazement was still greater on 





U 



the other ; for reports were so far in advance, that we were said to 



r f 



have already fallen by the spears of the Esquimaux. 



January 3. — I made a demand from both parties for supplies ; 



such as ammunition, gun-flints, axes, files, clothing, tobacco, and 

 spirits. I stated to them our extreme necessity, and that without 

 their assistance the Expedition must be arrested in its progress. 

 The answer from the North- West gentlemen was satisfactory 





enough ; but on the Hudson Bay side I was told, " that any farther 

 assistance this season entirely depends on the arrival of supplies, 

 expected in a few weeks hence from a distant establishment." I 

 remained at Fort Chipewyan live weeks, during which time some 

 laden sledges did arrive, but I could not obtain any addition to the 

 few articles I had procured at first. A packet of letters for us, 

 from England, having arrived, I made preparations for my return, 

 but not before I had requested both Companies to send, next year, 

 from the dep6ts a quantity of goods for our use, specified in 



furnished to them. 



The weather, during my abode at Chipewyan, was generally 

 mild, with occasional heavy storms, the greater part of which was 

 generally anticipated by the activity of the Aurora Borealis ; and 

 this I observed had been the case between Fort Providence and the 

 Athabasca in December and January, though not invariably so in 

 other parts of the country. One of the partners of the North- 

 West Company related to me the following singular story :— « He 

 was travelling in a canoe in the English Kiver, and had landed near 



the Kettle Fall, when the coruscations of the Aurora Borealis were 



202 



