108 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



person attached to the Expedition, in which cha- 

 racter it was surely my duty to provide for the 

 comfort and safety of the Canadians as well as 

 of the Indians. The voyagers, he knew, had a 

 long journey to perform, and would, in all pro- 

 bability, be exposed to much suffering from cold 

 on a coast destitute of wood ; and, therefore, re- 

 quired a greater provision of clothing- ihnn was 

 necessary for the Indian?, who, by returning; im- 

 mediately from the mouth of tiu: riv(T. wr-uld 

 reach Fort Providence in August, and obtain 

 their promised rewards. Most of the Indians 

 appearedto assent to this argument, butAkaitcho 

 said, " I perceive the traders have deceived you; 

 you should have brouglit more goods, but I do 

 not blame you." I then told him, that I had 

 brought from England only ammunition, tobacco, 

 and spirits ; and that being ignorant what other 

 articles the Indians required, we were dependent 

 on the traders for supplies; but ho must be 

 aware, that every endeavour had been used on 

 our parts to procure them, as was evinced by 

 Mr. Back's journey to Fort Chitxnw.ni. With 

 respect to the amrauniti' -o had 



been as much disappoi r • i n not 



receiving them, but tlii -bated 



to the neglect of those t.; v.]u.in\].rv ha<l ^^" 

 intrusted. This explanation sVcmcl to satisfy 



