OP THE POLAR SEA. 73 



" February 9. — Having got every thing arranged, 

 and having had a hearty breakfast with a coup 

 de Veau de vie, (a custom amongst the traders,) I 

 took my departure, or rather attempted to do so, 

 for on going to the gate there was a long range of 

 women, who came to bid me farewell. They 

 were all dressed (after the manner of the country) 

 in blue or green cloth, with their hair fresh greased, 

 separated before, and falling down behind, not in 

 careless tresses, but in a good sound tail, fastened 

 with black tape or riband. This was considered 

 a great compliment, and the ceremony consisted 

 in embracing the whole party. 



" I had with me four sledges, laden with goods 

 for the Expedition, and a fifth one belonging to 

 tlie Hudson's Bay Company. We returned ex- 

 actly by the same route, suffering no other incon- 

 venience but that arising from the chaffing of the 

 snow-shoe, and bad weather. Some Indians, 

 whom we met on the banks of the Little Buffalo 

 River, were rather surprised at seeing us, for 

 they had heard that we were on an island, which 

 was surrounded by Esquimaux. The dogs were 

 almost worn out, and their feet raw, when, on 

 February the 20th, we arrived at Moose-Deer 

 Island with our goods all in good order. Towards 

 the end of the month two of our men arrived with 

 letters from Lieutenant Franklin, containing some 



