314 Thirty Years 
necessary to abandon the original intention of proceed- © 
ing with the whole party towards Fort Providence, 
and Peltier and Samandra having volunteered to re- 
main with Adam, I determined on setting out with 
Benoit and Augustus, intending to send them relief 
by the first party of Indians we should meet. My 
clothes were so much torn, as to be quite inadequate 
to screen me from the wind, and Peltier and Samandré 
fearing that I might suffer on the journey in conse- 
quence, kindly exchanged with me parts of their dress, 
desiring me to send them skins in return by the In- 
dians. Having patched up three pair of snow-shoes, 
and singed a considerable quantity of skin for the jour- 
ney, we started on the morning of the 20th. Previous 
to my departure, I packed up the journals of the offi- 
cers, the charts, and some other documents, together 
with a letter addressed to the Under Secretary of 
State, detailing the occurrences of the Expedition up 
to this period, which package was given in charge to 
Peltier and Samandré, with direction that it should be 
brought away by the Indians who might come to them. 
I also instructed them to forward succor immediately 
on its arrival to our companions in the rear, which 
they solemnly promised to do, and I left a letter for 
my friends, Richardson and Hood, to be sent at the 
same time. I thought it necessary to admonish Pel- 
tier, Samandrd, and Adam, toeat two meals every day, 
