Chap. X. FRANKLIN AND RICHARDSON'S JOURNEY. 367 



and the people had their ration of spirits served out 

 to them. 



Towards the end of March two Indians arrived 

 from The Hook, a chief next to Akaitcho in autho- 

 rity among the Copper Indians; his band were 

 stationed between the Marten and Great Bear lakes ; 

 they brought offers from him to supply dried meat 

 on the banks of the Copper Mine River, in return 

 for goods and ammunition. The offer was declined, 

 but they were desired to tell him that notes on the 

 North-West Company's post would be given for 

 either provisions or leather when they met. Even 

 at this period, Franklin says, " the hunters sent us 

 no supplies ; our net produced very few fish, and 

 the pounded meat intended to keep for summer use 

 was nearly expended. Our meals at this period 

 were always scanty, and we were occasionally re- 

 stricted to one in the day." 



But the Indian families which congregated about 

 the house, consisting principally of women and 

 children, suffered the most. 



" I had often requested them to move to Akaitcho's 

 lodge, where they were more certain of receiving supplies ; 

 but as most of them were sick or infirm, they did not like to 

 quit the house, where they daily received medicines from 

 Dr. Richardson, to encounter the fatigue of following the 

 movements of a hunting-camp. They cleared away the 

 snow on the site of the autumn encampments to look for 

 bones, deer's feet, bits of hide, and other offal. When we 

 beheld them gnawing the pieces of hide, and pounding the 



