ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



before proceeding farther a definite understanding must be 

 arrived at. 



Beside the evening camp-fire, accordingly, the matter was 

 broached to the Indians. They were told plainly that if they 

 were to continue with us they would be required to go in ad- 

 vance and show us the way as far as they knew the route, and 

 further, that they would be expected to assist in portaging our 

 stuff whenever that might become necessary. In considera- 

 tion of this, as already agreed upon, they were to receive their 

 hoard and eighty skins ($40.00) per month upon their return 

 to Chipewyan. This arrangement was accepted as being 

 satisfactory to them, and it was hoped that it might result 

 satisfactorily to ourselves. 



During the morning of the 1st of July, with a little Union 

 Jack flying at the bow of my canoe, we arrived at the east 

 end of the lake, and concluded a traverse, since leaving Chip- 

 ewyan, of 210 miles. Here, at the extremity of the lake, we 

 found several Indian families living, not as is usual, in their 

 " tepees " or skin-covered lodges, but in substantial log houses. 

 One of these, we learned, was the property of our brave 

 Moberly, and in front of it he and old Bovia deliberately went 

 ashore, drew up their canoe, and seated themselves upon the 

 ground beside some friends. 



Their action at once struck us as suspicious, but presently 

 they made an open demand for a division of our bacon, flour, 

 tea and tobacco. Some pieces of tobacco and a small quan- 

 tity of tea had already been given, but any further distribu- 

 tion of our supplies was declined. At this Moberly feigned 

 to become very angry, and said he would go with us no 

 farther ; and not another foot would he go. From the first 

 his quibbling, unreliable manner, characteristic of the tribe 

 to which he belonged, had been most unsatisfactory, and now 

 having received board for himself and his family in journey- 

 ing homeward, besides a month's pay in advance, he had re- 

 solved to desert us. There was no use in trying to force him 



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