OF THE POLAR SEA. 183 
half-breeds, and sixty women and children, who 
consumed upwards of seven hundred pounds of 
buffalo meat daily, the allowance per diem for 
each man being eight pounds. 
There are other provision posts, Fort Augustus 
and Edmonton, farther up the river, from whence 
some furs are also procured. The Stone Indians 
have threatened to cut off the supplies in going up 
to these establishments, to prevent their enemies 
from obtaining ammunition, and other European 
articles; but as these menaces have been so fre- 
quently made without being put in execution, the 
traders now hear them without any great alarm, 
though they take every precaution toprevent being 
surprised. Mr. Back and I were present when 
an old Cree communicated to Mr. Prudens, that 
the Indians spoke of killing all the white people 
im that vicinity this year, which information he re- 
ceived with perfect composure, and was amused, 
as well as ourselves, with the man’s judicious re- 
mark which immediately followed, “ A pretty 
state we shall then be in, without the goods you 
bring us.” 
The following remarks on a well-known disease 
are extracted from Dr, Richardson’s Journal :— 
Bronchocele, or Goitre, is a common disorder 
at Edmonton. I examined several of the indi- 
viduals afflicted with it, and endeavoured to ob- 
