In the Artie Regions. Ill 



the Qreal Slav Lake, to receive the supplies of 

 ammunition and som ■ in the winter which 



wen- absolutely i j for the prosecution of our 



journey, or to get the Esquimaux interpreter, whom 

 we expected. Ii' I had not deemed these circumstan 

 paramounl 1 Bhould have preferred the route by Bear 

 Lake, 



Akaitcho and the guides having communicated all 

 the information they possessed on the different points 

 to which our questions had been directed, I placed my 

 medal round the neck of the chief, and the offii 

 presented theirs to an elder brother of his and the two 

 guides, communicating to them that these marks of 

 distinction w< re given as tokens of our friendship and 

 as pledges of the sincerity of out professions. Being 

 conferred in the presence i all the hunters, their ac- 

 quisition was highly gratifying to them, but they stu- 

 diously avoided any greal expression of joy, because 

 Buch an exposure would have been unbecoming the 

 dignity which the senior Indians assume during a con- 

 ference. They assured us, however, of their being 

 duly sensible of thee of our regard, and that 



they should be preserved during their lives with the 

 utmosl care. The chief evinced much penetration and 

 intelligence during the whole of this conversation, 

 which gave us a favorable opinion of his intellectual 

 powers, lie made many inquiries respecting tho 



