OF THE POLAR SEA. 



305 



that this was impossible, since we had already offered him all the 

 rum we had, and every article of goods we could spare from our own 

 equipment, his obstinacy was a little shaken, and he made some con- 

 cessions, but deferred giving a final answer, until the arrival of 

 Humpy, his elder brother. The young men, however, did not 

 choose to wait so long, and at night came for the rum, which we 

 judged to be a considerable step towards a reconciliation. 



St. Germain, the most intelligent of our two interpreters, and 

 the one who had most influence with the Indians, being informed 



* 



that their defection was, in a great measure, attributed to the un- 

 guarded conversations he had held with them, and which he had in 

 part acknowledged, exerted himself much, on the following day, 

 in bringing about a change in their sentiments, and with some suc- 

 cess. The young men, though they declined hunting, conducted 

 themselves with the same good humour and freedom as formerly. 

 Akaitcho being, as he said, ashamed to shew himself, kept close in 

 his tent all day. 



On the 24th, one of the women, who accompanied us from Atha- 

 basca, was sent down to Fort Providence, under charge of the old 

 chief, who came some days ago for medicine for his eyes. Ange- 

 lique and Roulante, the other two women, having families, preferred 

 accompanying the Indians, during their summer hunt. On the 

 25th, clothing, and other necessary articles, were issued to the 

 Canadians as their equipment for the ensuing voyage. Two or 

 three blankets, some cloth, iron work, and trinkets, were reserved 

 for distribution amongst the Esquimaux on the sea-coast. Laced 

 dresses were given to Augustus and Junius. It is impossible to de- 

 scribe the joy that took possession of the latter on the receipt of 

 this present. The happy little fellow burst into ecstatic laughter, as 

 he surveyed the different articles of his gay habiliments, 



In the afternoon Humpy, the leader's elder brother ; Annoethai- 

 yazzeh, another of his brothers; and one of our guides, arrived 



2 b 



