OF THE POLAR SEA. 



41 



resident at the fort were also sent away for 

 the same purpose ; and no other families 

 were permitted to remain at the houses 

 after the departure of the canoes, than those 

 belonging to the men who were required to 

 carry on the daily duty. 



The large party of officers and men, 

 which had assembled here from the different 

 posts in the department, was again quickly 

 dispersed. The first brigade of canoes, 

 laden with furs, was despatched to the 

 depot on May 30th, and the others fol- 

 lowed in two or three days afterwards. 

 Mr. Stuart, the senior partner of the North- 

 West Company, quitted us for the same 

 destination on J une 4th ; Mr. Robertson for 

 his depot on the next day, and on the 9 th 

 we parted with our friend Mr. Keith, to 

 whose unremitting kindness we felt much 

 indebted. I intrusted to his care a box 

 containing some drawings by Mr. Back, 

 the map of our route from Cumberland 

 House, and the skin of a black beaver, 

 (presented to the expedition by Mr. Smith,) 

 with my official letters, addressed to the 



