OF THE POLAR SEA. 349 
these circumstances were, they produced less 
painful sensations than we experienced in the 
evening, by the refusal of Akaitcho to accom- 
pany us in the proposed descent of the Copper- 
Mine River. When Mr. Wentzel, by my direc- 
tion, communicated to him my intention of pro- 
ceeding at once on that service, he desired a 
conference with me upon the subject, which 
being immediately granted, he began by stating, 
that the very attempt would be rash and danger- 
ous, as the weather was cold, the leaves were 
falling, some geese had passed to the southward, 
‘and the winter would shortly set in; and that, 
as he considered the lives of all who went on 
such a journey would be forfeited, he neither 
‘would go himself, nor permit his hunters to ac- 
‘company us. He said there was no wood within 
eleven days’ march, during which time we could 
not have any fire, as the moss, which the Indians 
use in their summer excursions, would be too wet 
for burning, in consequence of the recent rains ; 
that we should be forty days in descending the 
‘Copper-Mine River, six of which would be ex- 
pended in getting to its banks, and that we might 
‘be blocked up by the ice in the next moon ; and 
during the whole journey the party must ex- 
- perience great suffering for want of food, as the 
‘rein-deer had already left the river. 
