OF THE POLAR SEA. 



311 



dressed meanly, and pleaded poverty ; but, perceiving that nothing 

 more could be gained by such conduct, he thought proper to shew 

 some of his riches to the strangers who were daily arriving at the 

 fort. In the afternoon, however, he made another, though a covert, 

 attack upon us. He informed me that two old men had just arrived 

 at the encampment with a little pounded meat, which they wished to 

 barter. It was evident that his intention was merely to discover 

 whether we had any goods remaining or not. I told him that we 

 had nothing at present to give for meat, however much we stood in 

 need of it, but that we would pay for it by notes on the North- West 

 Company, in any kind of goods they pleased. After much artful 

 circumlocution, and repeated assurances of the necessities of the 

 men who owned the meat, he introduced them, and they readily 

 agreed to give us the provision on our own terms. 



I have deemed it my duty to give the preceding details of the 

 tedious conversations we had with Akaitcho, to point out to future 

 travellers, the art with which these Indians pursue their objects, 

 their avaricious nature, and the little reliance that can be placed 

 upon them when their interests jar with their promises. In these 

 respects they agree with other tribes of northern Indians ; but, as has 

 been already mentioned, their dispositions are not cruel, and their 

 hearts are readily moved by the cry of distress. 



The average temperature for May was nearly 32°, the greatest 



heat was 68°, the lowest 8°. 



We had constant daylight at the end of the month, and geese and 

 ducks were abundant, indeed rather too much so, for our hunters 

 were apt to waste upon them the ammunition that was given to 

 them for killing deer. Uncertain as to the length of time that our 

 ammunition might be required to last, we did not deem a goose of 

 equal value with the charge it cost to procure it. 



Dr. Richardson and Mr. Back having visited the country to the 

 northward of the Slave Rock, and reported that they thought we 



