OF THE POLAR SEA. 179 



they succeeded, kept a watchful eye over 

 them. We knew that the dread of the 

 Esquimaux would prevent these men from 

 leaving us as soon as the Indians were at a 

 distance, and we trusted to their becoming 

 reconciled to the journey when once the 

 novelty of a sea voyage had worn off. 



July 18. — As the Indians persevered in 

 their determination of setting out this morn- 

 ing, I reminded them, through Mr. W entzel 

 and St. Germain, of the necessity of our 

 having the deposit of provision made at Fort 

 Enterprise, and received a renewed assu- 

 rance of their attending to that point. They 

 were also desired to put as much meat as 

 they could en cache on the banks of the 

 Copper-Mine River on their return. We 

 then furnished them with what ammunition 

 we could spare, and they took their depar- 

 ture, promising to wait three days for Mr. 

 Wentzel at the Copper Mountains. We 

 afterwards learned that their fears did not 

 permit them to do so, and that Mr. Went- 

 zel did not rejoin them until they were a 

 n 2 



