356 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
require in the spring. They were therefore fur- 
nished with some ammunition, clothing, and other 
necessary articles, and directed to take their de- 
parture as soon as possible. 
Akaitcho came into our tent this evening at » 
supper, and made several pertinent inquiries pe? age 
specting the eclipse, of which we had spoken last 
night. He desired to know the effect that would 
be produced, and the cause of it, which we en- 
deayoured to explain; and, having gained this 
information, he sent for several of his companions, 
that they might also have it repeated to them. 
They were most astonished at our knowing the 
time at which this event should happen, and re- 
marked, that this knowledge was a striking proof 
of the superiority of the whites over the Indians. 
We took advantage of this occasion to speak to 
them respecting the Supreme Being, who ordered 
all the operations of nature, and to impress on 
their minds the necessity of paying strict atten- 
tion to their moral duties, in obedience to his 
will. They readily assented to all these points, 
and Akaitcho assured us that both himself and 
his young men would exert themselves in obtain- 
ing provision for us in return for the interesting 
communications we had just made to them. 
Having received a supply of dried meat from 
the Indian lodges, we were enabled to equip the 
