OP THE POLAR SEA. 49 



consisting of a cask of flour, thirty-six pounds of 

 sugar, a roll of tobacco, and forty pounds of 

 tobacco. I received a letter from Mr. Weeks, 

 wherein he denied that he had ever circulated 

 any reports to our disadvantage ; and stated that 

 he had done every thing in his power to assist 

 us, and even discouraged Akaitcho from leaving 

 us, when he had sent him a message, saying, 

 that he wished to do so, if he was sure of being 

 well received at Fort Providence. 



We mentioned the contents of the letter to the 

 Indians, who were at the house at the time, when 

 one of the hunters, who had attenc'ed the men on 

 their journey, stated, that he had heard many of 

 the reports against us from Mr. Weeks himself, 

 and expressing his surprise that he should ven- 

 ture to deny them. St. Germain soon afterwards 

 arrived from Alcaitcho, and informed us, that he 

 left him in good humour, and, apparently, not 

 harbouring the slightest idea of quitting us. 



On the 12th, we sent four men to Fort Provi. 

 dence ; and, on the ITth, Mr. Back arrived from 

 Fort Chipewyan, having performed, since he left 

 us, a journey of more than one thousand miles on 

 foot. I had every reason to be much pleased with 

 his conduct on this arduous undertaking ; but his 

 exertions may be best estimated by the perusal 



of the following narrative of his proceedino-s ■ 



Vol. rr. r, ° 



