INTRODUCTION 51 



Company, and in the November following, when some Northern 

 Indians came to trade, Mr. Norton, who was then returned 

 to the command of Prince of Wales's Fort, engaged such of 

 them for my guides as he thought were most likely to answer 

 the purpose ; but none of them had been at this grand river. 

 I was fitted out with everything thought necessary, and with 

 ammunition to serve two years. I was to be accompanied 

 by two of the Company's servants, two of the Home-guard * 

 (Southern) Indians, [xxxv] and a sufficient number of Northern 

 Indians to carry and haul my baggage, provide for me, &c. 

 But for the better stating this arrangement, it will not be 

 improper to insert my Instructions, which, with some occa- 

 sional remarks thereon, will throw much light on the follow- 

 ing Journal, and be the best method of proving how far those 

 orders have been complied with, as well as shew my reasons 

 for neglecting some parts as unnecessary, and the impossibility 

 of putting other parts of them in execution. 



two first paragraphs of their letter to me, dated I2th May 1773, they express 

 themselves in the following words : 



" Mr. Samuel Hearne, 



" Sir, — Your letter of the 28th August last gave us the agreeable pleasure 

 to hear of your safe return to our Factory. Your Journal, and the two charts 

 you sent, sufficiently convince us of your very judicious remarks. 



" We have maturely considered your great assiduity in the various accidents 

 which occurred in your several Journies. We hereby return you our grateful 

 thanks ; and to manifest our obligation we have consented to allow you a 

 gratuity of £ ^ for those services." 



As a farther proof of the Company's being perfectly satisfied with my con- 

 duct while on that Journey, the Committee unanimously appointed me Chief of 

 Prince of Wales's Fort in the Summer of 1775 ; and Mr. Bibye Lake, who 

 was then Governor, and several others of the Committee, honoured me with a 

 regular correspondence as long as they lived. 



* By the Home-guard Indians we are to understand certain of the natives 

 who are immediately employed under the protection of the Company's servants, 

 reside on the plantation, and are employed in hunting for the Factory.^ 



\} Stated by Beckles Willson to be ^200.] 



[2 The Southern or Homeguard Indians here referred to were Crees, oneof 

 the most numerous tribes of the Algonquian family. The Northern Indians 

 were Chipewyans, a tribe of the Tinne family.] 



