OP THE POLAR SEA. IO9 



him. After some minutes of reflection, his coun- 

 tenance became more cheerful, and he made in- 

 quiry, whether his party might go to either of the 

 trading posts they chose on their return, and 

 whether the Hudson's Bay Company were rich, 

 for they had been represented to him as a poor 

 people ? I answered him, that we really knew 

 nothing about the wealth of either Company, 

 having never concerned ourselves with trade, but 

 that all the traders appeared to us to be respect- 

 able. Our thoughts, I added, are fixed solely 

 on the accomplishment of the objects for which 

 we came to the country. Our success depends 

 much on your furnishing us with provision 

 speedily, that we may have all tlie summer to 

 work in ; and if we succeed, a ship will soon 

 bring goods in abundance to the mouth of the 

 Copper-Mine River. The Indians talked together 

 for a short time after this conversation, and then 

 the leader made an application for two or three 

 kettles and some blankets, to be added to the 

 present to his young men; we were unable to 

 spare him any kettles, but the officers promised 

 to give a blanket each from their own beds. 



Dinner was now brought in, and relieved us 

 for a time from their importunity. The leading 

 men, as usual, received each a portion from the 

 table. When the conversation was resumed, the 



