84 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



you." I then told him, that I had brought 

 from England only ammunition, tobacco, 

 and spirits ; and that being ignorant what 

 other articles the Indians required, we were 

 dependent on the traders for supplies ; but 

 he must be aware, that every endeavour 

 had been used on our parts to procure 

 them, as was evinced by Mr. Back's journey 

 to Fort Chipewyan. With respect to the 

 ammunition and tobacco, we had been as 

 much disappointed as themselves in not re- 

 ceiving them, but this was to be attributed 

 to the neglect of those to whom they had 

 been intrusted. This explanation seemed 

 to satisfy him. After some minutes of 

 reflection, his countenance became more 

 cheerful, and he made inquiry, whether his 

 party might go to either of the trading 

 posts they chose on their return, and whe- 

 ther the Hudson's Bay Company were rich, 

 for they had been represented to him as a 

 poor people ? I answered him, that we 

 really knew nothing about the wealth of 

 either Company, having never concerned 

 ourselves with trade, but that all the traders 



