OF THE POLAR SEA. 



303 



bution amongst his people. Akaitcho then commenced his speech, 

 but I regret to say, that it was very discouraging, and indicated that 

 he had parted with his good humour, at least since his March visit. 

 He first inquired, whether in the event of a passage by sea being 

 discovered, we should come to his lands in any ship that might be 

 sent ? And being answered, that it was probable but not quite 

 certain, that some one amongst us might come ; he expressed a hope 

 that some suitable present should be forwarded to himself and 

 nation ; " for," said he, " the great Chief who commands where all 

 the goods come from, must see from the drawings and descriptions 

 of us and our country that we are a miserable people." I told him 

 that he should assuredly be remembered, provided he faithfully ful- 

 filled his engagement with us. 



He next complained of the non-payment of my notes by Mr. 

 Weeks, from whence he apprehended that his own reward would 

 be withheld. " If," said he, " your notes to such a trifling amount 

 are not accepted, whilst you are within such a short distance, and 

 can hold communication with the fort, it is not probable that the 

 large reward which has been promised to myself and party, will be 

 paid when you are far distant, on your way to your own country. It 

 really appears to me," he continued, " as if both of the Companies 

 consider your party as a third company, hostile to their interests, 

 and that neither of them will pay the notes you give to the 



Indians." 



Afterwards, in the course of a long conference, he enumerated 

 many other grounds of dissatisfaction ; the principal of which were 

 our want of attention to him as chief, the weakness of the rum 



* 



formerly sent to him, the smallness of the present now offered to 

 him, and the want of the chief's clothing, which he had been 

 accustomed to receive at Fort Providence every spring. He 

 concluded, by refusing to receive the goods now offered to him. 

 In reply to these complaints it was stated, that Mr, Weeks's 



