OF THE POLAR SEA. 



139 



Mountain. They were also to place parti- 

 cular marks to guide our course to their 

 lodges. We contracted to pay them liberally, 

 whether we returned by this way or not ; if 

 we did, they were to accompany us to Fort 

 Providence to receive the reward ; and, at 

 any rate, I promised to send the necessary 

 documents by Mr. Wentzel, from the sea- 

 coast, to ensure them an ample remunera- 

 tion. With this arrangement they were per- 

 fectly satisfied, and we could not be less so, 

 knowing they had every motive for fulfilling 

 their promises, as the place they had chosen 

 to remain at is their usual hunting-ground. 

 The uncommon anxiety these chiefs ex- 

 pressed for our safety, appeared to us likely 

 to prompt them to every care and attention, 

 and I record their expressions with grati- 

 tude. After representing the numerous 

 hardships we should have to encounter in 

 the strongest manner, though in language 

 similar to what we had often heard from 

 our friend Akaitcho, they earnestly entreated 

 we would be constantly on our guard against 

 the treachery of the Esquimaux; and no 



