OF THE POLAR SEA. 355 
scend the Copper-Mine River, might be detained 
until he was found, or that it might have departed 
without him. He did not entertain any dread 
of the white bears, of whose numbers and _fe- 
__ Tocious attacks the Indians had been constantly 
seaking, since we had entered the barren 
~ grounds. Our fears for his safety, however, were 
in a considerable degree excited by the accounts 
we had received of these animals. Having 
made a hearty supper he retired to rest, slept 
soundly, and arose next morning in perfect 
health. ? : 
On the 28th of August Akaitcho was informed 
of our intention to send the party to the river, and 
of the reasons for doing so, of which he approved, 
when he found that I had relinquished the idea of 
going myself, incompliance with the desire which 
he and the Indians had expressed ; and he im- 
mediately said two of the hunters should go to 
provide them with food on the journey, and to 
serve as guides. During this conversation we 
gathered from him, for the first time, that there 
might still be some of his tribe near to the river, 
from whom the party could get provision. Our. 
next object was to despatch the Indians to their 
hunting-ground to collect provision for us, and to 
procure the fat of the deer for our use during the 
winter, and for making the pemmican - should 
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