OF THE POLAR SEA. 



75 



it is not probable that the large reward, 

 which has been promised to myself and 

 party, will be paid when you are far distant, 

 on your way to your own country. It really 

 appears to me," he continued, " as if both 

 the Companies consider your party as a 

 third company, hostile to their interests, 

 and that neither of them will pay the notes 

 you give to the Indians." 



Afterwards, in the course of a long con- 

 ference, he enumerated many other grounds 

 of dissatisfaction ; the principal of which 

 were our want of attention to him as chief, 

 the weakness of the rum formerly sent to 

 him, the smallness of the present now 

 offered, and the want of the chief's clothing, 

 which he had been accustomed to receive 

 at Fort Providence every spring. He con- 

 cluded, by refusing to receive the goods 

 now laid before him. 



In reply to these complaints it was stated 

 that Mr. Weeks's conduct could not be 

 properly discussed at such a distance from 

 his fort ; that no dependence ought to be 

 placed on the vague reports that floated 



