OF THE POLAR SEA. 189 



vance, we should, in all probability, be unable to 

 return to it, and should have to travel across the 

 barren grounds towards some established post : 

 in which case I told hiin that we should certainly 

 go first to Fort Enterprise, expecting that he 

 would cause the Indians to place a supply of dried 

 provision there, as soon as possible after their 

 arrival in its vicinity. My instructions to him 

 were, that he should proceed to Point Lake, 

 transport the canoe that was left there to Fort 

 Enterprise, where he was to embark the instru- 

 ments and books, and carry them to Slave Lake, 

 and to forward the box containing the journals, 

 4'c., with the present despatches by the next 

 winter packet to England. But before he quitted 

 Fort Enterprise, he was to be assured of the in- 

 tention of the Indians to lay up the provision we 

 required, and if they should be in want of ammu- 

 nition for that purpose, to procure it if possible 

 from Fort Providence, or the other forts in Slave 

 Lake, and send it iimnediately to them by the 

 hunters who accompanied him thither. I also 

 requested him to ascertain from Akaitcho and the 

 other leading Indians, where their different parties 

 would be hunting in the months of September and 

 October, and to leave this information in a letter 

 at Fort Enterprise, for our guidance in finding 

 them, as we should require their assistance. Mr. 



