OF THE POLAR SEA. 



85 



appeared to us to be respectable. Our 

 thoughts, I added, are fixed solely on the 

 accomplishment of the objects for which 

 we came to the country. Our success de- 

 pends much on your furnishing us with 

 provisions speedily, that we may have all 

 the summer to work ; and if we succeed, a 

 ship will soon bring goods in abundance to 

 the mouth of the Copper-Mine River. The 

 Indians talked together for a short time 

 after this conversation, and then the leader 

 made an application for two or three kettles 

 and some blankets, to be added to the pre- 

 sent to his young men ; we were unable to 

 spare him any kettles, but the officers pro- 

 mised to give a blanket each from their own 

 beds. 



Dinner was now brought in, and relieved 

 us for a time from their importunity. The 

 leading men, as usual, received each a por- 

 tion from the table. When the conversa- 

 tion was resumed the chief renewed his so- 

 licitations for goods, but it was now too 

 palpable to be mistaken, that he aimed at 

 getting every thing he possibly could, and 



