1 48 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



traders appear to be poor, I and my party 

 are poor likewise ; and since the goods have 

 not come in, we cannot have them. I do 

 not regret having supplied you with pro- 

 visions, for a Copper Indian can never per- 

 mit white men to suffer from want of food 

 on his lands, without flying to their aid. I 

 trust, however, that we shall, as you say, 

 receive what is due next autumn ; and at 

 all events," he added, in a tone of good 

 humour, " it is the first time that the white 

 people have been indebted to the Copper 

 Indians." We assured him the supplies 

 should certainly be sent to him by the autumn, 

 if not before. He then cheerfully received 

 the small present we made to himself ; and,, 

 although we could give a few things only 

 to those who had been most active in our 

 service, the others, who, perhaps, thought 

 themselves equally deserving, did not mur- 

 mur at being left out in the distribution. 

 Akaitcho afterwards expressed a strong 

 desire, that we should represent the cha- 

 racter of his nation in a favourable light to 

 our countrymen, " I know," he said, " you 



