OF THE POLAR SEA. 



103 



inactivity, and that they have not been fur- 

 nished with any of the consolations which 

 the Christian religion never fails to afford. 

 This, however, could hardly have been ex- 

 pected from persons who have permitted 

 their own offspring, the half-casts, to remain 

 in lamentable ignorance on a subject of 

 such vital importance. It is probable, 

 however, that an improvement will soon 

 take place among the latter class, as Go- 

 vernor Williams proposes to make the chil- 

 dren attend a Sunday school, and has already 

 begun to have divine service performed at 

 his post. 



The conversations which I had with the 

 gentlemen in charge of these posts, con- 

 vinced me of the necessity of proceeding 

 during the winter into the Athabasca de- 

 partment, the residents of which are best 

 acquainted with the nature and resources of 

 the country to the north of the Great Slave 

 Lake; and whence only guides, hunters, 

 and interpreters can be procured. I had 

 previously written to the partners of the 

 North-West Company in that quarter, re- 



