OF THE POLAR SEA. 



21 



and other stores, to enable it to leave its 

 present situation, and proceed for the at- 

 tainment of its ultimate object. 



" November 9. — I despatched to Fort En- 

 terprise one of the men with the letters 

 and a hundred musket-balls, which Mr. 

 Weeks lent me on condition that they should 

 be returned the first opportunity. An In- 

 dian and his wife accompanied the messen- 

 ger. Lieutenant Franklin was made ac- 

 quainted with the exact state of things ; and 

 I awaited with much impatience the freezing 

 of the lake. 



cc November 16.— A band of Slave Indians 

 came to the fort with a few furs and some 

 bear's grease. Though we had not seen 

 any of them, it appeared that they had re- 

 ceived information of our being in the 

 country, and knew the precise situation of 

 our house, which they would have visited 

 long ago, but from the fear of being pillaged 

 by the Copper Indians. I questioned the 

 chief about the Great Bear and Marten 

 Lakes, their distance from Fort Enterprise, 

 &c. ; but his answers were so vague and 



