OF THE POLAR SEA. 



39 



of subsistence in travelling to the coast. 

 This agreeable intelligence had a happy 

 effect upon the Canadian voyagers, many 

 of their fears being removed : several of 

 them seemed now disposed to volunteer ; 

 and indeed, on the same evening, two men 

 from the North-West Company offered 

 themselves and were accepted. 



June 5. — This day Mr. Back and I went 

 over to Fort Wedderburne, to see Mr. 

 Robertson respecting his quota of men. 

 We learned from him that, notwithstanding 

 his endeavours to persuade them, his most 

 experienced voyagers still declined engaging 

 without very exorbitant wages. After 

 some hesitation, however, six men engaged 

 with us, who were represented to be active 

 and steady ; and I also got Mr. Robertson's 

 permission for St. Germain, an interpreter 

 belonging to this Company, to accompany 

 us from Slave Lake if he should choose. 

 The bow-men and steers-men were to re- 

 ceive one thousand six hundred livres 

 Halifax per annum, and the middle men 

 one thousand two hundred, exclusive of 



