396 Thirty Years 



under oars and sails. In the afternoon the men were 

 appointed to their respective stations, and furnished 

 with the sky-blue waterproof uniforms, and feathers, 

 as well as with the warm 'clothing which had been 

 provided for the voyage. I acquainted them fully 

 with the object of the Expedition, and pointed out 

 their various duties. They received these communi- 

 cations with satisfaction, were delighted with the 

 prospect of the voyage, and expressed their readiness 

 to commence it immediately. Fourteen men, includ- 

 ing Augustus, were appointed to accompany myself 

 and Lieutenant Back, in the Lion and Reliance, the 

 two larger boats ; and ten, including Ooligbuck, to 

 go with Dr. Richardson and Mr. Kendall, in the Dol- 

 phin and Union. In order to make up the complement 

 of fourteen for the western party, I proposed to re- 

 ceive two volunteers from the Canadian voyagers ; and 

 to the credit of Canadian enterprise, every man came 

 forward. I chose Francois Felix and Alexis Vivier, 

 because they were the first who offered their services, 

 and this too without any stipulation as to increase of 

 wages. 



Spare blankets and everything that could be useful 



for the voyage, or as presents to the Esquimaux, 



which our stores could furnish, were divided between 



-tern and western parties, and put up into bales 



of a Bize convenient for stowage. This interesting 



