INTRODUCTION 53 



with their leaders, in order to establish a friendship with them. 

 You are also to persuade them as much as possible from going 

 to war with each other, to encourage them to exert themselves 

 in procuring furrs and other articles for trade, and to assure 

 them of good payment for them at the Company's Factory. 



" It is sincerely recommended to you and your companions 

 to treat the natives with civility, so as not to give [xxxviijjthem 

 any room for complaint or disgust, as they have strict orders 

 not to give you the least offence, but are to aid and assist you 

 in any matter you may request of them for the benefit of 

 the undertaking. 



" If any Indians you may meet, that are coming to the 

 Fort, should be willing to trust you with either food or cloth- 

 ing, make your agreement for those commodities, and by them 

 send me a letter, specifying the quantity of each article, and 

 they shall be paid according to your agreement. And, accord- 

 ing to the Company's orders, you are to correspond with me, 

 or the Chief at Prince of Wales's Fort for the time being, at all 

 opportunities : And as you have mathematical instruments 

 with you, you are to send me, or the Chief for the time being, 

 an account of what latitude and longitude you may be in at 

 such and such periods, together with the heads of your pro- 

 ceedings ; which accounts are to be remitted to the Company 

 by the return of their ships.* 



" 3dly, The Indians who are now appointed your guides, 

 are to conduct you to the borders of the Athapuscow t Indians 

 country, where Captain Matonabbee [xxxviii] is to meet you X in 



* No convenient opportunity offered during my last Journey, except one, on 

 the 22d March 1771 ; and as nothing material had happened during that part 

 of my Journey, I thought there was not any necessity for sending an extract of 

 my Journal ; I therefore only sent a Letter to the Governor, informing him of 

 my situation with respect to latitude and longitude, and some account of the 

 usage which I received from the natives, &:c. 



t By mistake in my former Journal and Draft called Arathapefcow. 



t This was barely probable, as Matonabbee at that time had not any infor- 

 mation of this Journey being set on foot, much less had he received orders to 

 join me at the place and time here appointed ; and had we accidentally met, 



