OP THE POLAR SEA. 113 



He was seconded in this opinion by Long-legs, 

 whom I was the more inclined to believe, from 

 knowing that he was anxious to rejoin his family 

 as soon as possible. 



Akaitcho now accepted the dress he had for- 

 merly refused, and next day clothed himself in 

 another new suit, which he had received from us 

 in the autumn. Ever since his arrival at the fort, 

 he had dressed meanly, and pleaded poverty ; 

 but, perceiving that nothing more could be gained 

 by such conduct, he thought proper to shew some 

 of his riches to the strangers who were daily ar- 

 riving at the fort. In the afternoon, however, he 

 made another, though a covert, attack upon us. 

 He informed me that two old men had just ar- 

 rived at the encampment with a little pounded 

 meat, which they wished to barter. It was evi- 

 dent that his intention was merely to discover 

 whether we had any goods remaining or not. I 

 told him that we had nothing at present to give for 

 meat, however much we stood in need of it, but 

 that we would pay for it by notes on the North- 

 West Company, in any kind of goods they pleased. 

 After much artful circumlocution, and repeated 

 assurances of the necessities of the men who 

 owned the meat, he introduced them, and they 

 readily agreed to give us the provision on our 

 own terms. 



