OF THE POLAR SEA. 



37 



the Hudson's Bay side I was told, * that 

 any farther assistance this season entirely 

 depended on the arrival of supplies expected 

 in a few weeks from a distant establish- 

 ment.' I remained at Fort Chipewyan five 

 weeks, during which time some laden sledges 

 did arrive, but I could not obtain any addi- 

 tion to the few articles I had procured at 

 first. A packet of letters for us, from 

 England, having arrived, I made prepara- 

 tions for my return, but not before I had 

 requested both Companies to send next 

 year, from the depots, a quantity of goods 

 for our use, specified in lists furnished to 

 them. 



" The weather, during my abode at Chi- 

 pewyan, was generally mild, with occasional 

 heavy storms, most of which were antici- 

 pated by the activity of the Aurora Borealis ; 

 and this I observed had been the case 

 between Fort Providence and the Athabasca 

 in December and January, though not in- 

 variably so in other parts of the country. 

 One of the partners of the North-West 

 Company related to me the following singular 



