OF THE POLAR SEA. 77 



friends in the rear, whose lives depended 

 entirely on our sending immediate relief 

 from this place. 



I found a note, however, from Mr. Back, 

 stating that he had reached the house two 

 days before and was going in search of the 

 Indians, at a part where St. Germain 

 deemed it probable they might be found. 

 If he was unsuccessful, he purposed walk- 

 ing to Fort Providence, and sending suc- 

 cour from thence : but he doubted whether 

 either he or his party could perform the jour- 

 ney to that place in their present debilitated 

 state. It was evident that any supply that 

 could be sent from Fort Providence would 

 be long in reaching us, neither could it be 

 sufficient to enable us to afford any assist- 

 ance to our companions behind, and that 

 the only relief for them must be procured 

 from the Indians. I resolved, therefore, on 

 going also in search of them ; but my com- 

 panions were absolutely incapable of pro- 

 ceeding, and I thought by halting two or 

 three days they might gather a little 

 strength, whilst the delay would afford us 



