OF THE POLAR SEA. 



307 



anger, he charged Mr. Wentzel with having advised the distribu- 



_ 



tion of all our goods to the Canadians, and thus defrauding the In- 

 dians of what was intended for them. Mr. Wentzel, of course, 

 immediately repelled this injurious accusation, and reminded 

 Akaitcho again, that he had been told, on engaging to accompany 

 us, that he was not to expect any goods until his return. This he 

 denied with an effrontery that surprised us all, when Humpy, who 

 was present at our first interview at Fort Providence, declared that 

 he heard us say, that no goods could be taken for the supply of the 

 I ndians on the voyage ; and the first guide added, " I do not ex- 

 pect any thing here, I have promised to accompany the white people 

 to the sea, and I will, therefore, go, confidently relying upon re- 

 ceiving the stipulated reward on my return." Akaitcho did not 

 seem prepared to hear such declarations from his brothers, and in- 

 stantly changed the subject, and began to descant upon the treat- 

 ment he had received from the traders in his concerns with them, 

 with an asperity of language that bore more the appearance of 

 menace than complaint. I immediately refused to discuss this topic, 

 as foreign to our present business, and desired Akaitcho to recall 

 to his memory, that he had told me on our first meeting, that he 

 considered me the father of every person attached to the expedi- 

 tion, in which character it was surely my duty to provide for the 

 comfort and safety of the Canadians, as well as of the Indians. The 

 voyagers, he knew, had a long journey to perform, and would, in 

 all probability, be exposed to much suffering from cold, on a coast 

 destitute of wood ; and, therefore, required a greater provision of 

 clothing than was necessary for the Indians, who, by returning im- 

 mediately from the mouth of the river, would reach Fort Provi- 

 dence in August, and obtain their promised rewards. Most of the 

 Indians appeared to assent to this argument, but Akaitcho said, " I 

 perceive the traders have deceived you, you should have brought 

 more goods, but I do not blame you." I then told him, that I 



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