OF THE POLAR SEA. 



11 



pany the expedition. Several persons col- 

 lected, but to my great mortification, I 

 found they were all so strongly possessed 

 with the fearful apprehension, either that 

 great danger would attend the service, or 

 that we should carry them further than 

 they would agree to go, that not a single 

 man would engage with us ; some of them, 

 however, said they would consider the sub- 

 ject, and give me an answer on the follow- 

 ing day. This indecisive conduct was ex- 

 tremely annoying to me, especially as the 

 next evening was fixed for the departure of 

 the ships. 



At the appointed time on the following 

 morning, four men only presented them- 

 selves, and these, after much hesitation, 

 engaged to accompany the expedition to 

 Fort Chipewyan, if they should be required 

 so far. The bowmen and steersmen were 

 to receive forty pounds wages annually, 

 and the middle men thirty-five pounds. 

 They stipulated to be sent back to the 

 Orkney Islands free of expense, and to 

 receive their pay until the time of arrival. 



