OF THE POLAR SEA. 471 



fed us as if we had been children ; evincing humanity that would 

 have done honour to the most civilized people. The night was 

 mild, and fatigue made us sleep soundly. 



From this period to the 26th of November we gradually continued 

 to improve, under the kindness and attention of our Indians. On this 

 day we arrived in safety at the abode of our chief and companion, 

 Akaitcho. We were received by the party assembled in the 

 leader's tent, with looks of compassion, and profound silence, which 

 lasted about a quarter of an hour, and by which they meant to 

 express their condolence for our sufferings. The conversation did 

 not begin until we had tasted food. The Chief, Akaitcho, shewed 

 us the most friendly hospitality, and all sorts of personal attention, 

 even to cooking for us with his own hands; an office which he 

 never performs for himself. Annoethai-yazzeh and Humpy, the 

 Chief 's two brothers, and several of our hunters, with their families, 

 were encamped here, together with a number of old men and wo- 

 men. In the course of the day we were visited by every person 

 of the band, not merely from curiosity, I conceive, but rather from 

 a desire to evince their tender sympathy in our late distress. We 

 learned that Mr. Back, with St. Germain and Belanger, had gone 

 to F ort Providence ; and that, previous to his departure, he had 

 left a letter in a cache of pounded meat, which we had missed two 

 days ago. As we supposed that this letter might acquaint us with 

 his intentions more fully than we could gather from the Indians, 

 through our imperfect knowledge of their language, Augustus, the 

 Esquimaux, whom we found here in perfect health, and an Indian 

 lad, were despatched to bring it. 



We found several of the Indian families in great affliction, for the 

 loss of three of their relatives, who had been drowned in the' August 

 preceding, by the upsetting of a canoe near to Fort Enterprise. They 

 bewailed the melancholy accident every morning and evening, by 



