OF THE POLAR SEA. 43 



racter, remove from the establishment be- 

 fore we could arrive. It had been my 

 intention to go to them myself, could the 

 articles, with which they expected to be 

 presented on my arrival, have been pro- 

 vided at these establishments ; but as they 

 could not be procured, I was compelled to 

 defer my visit until our canoes should arrive. 

 Mr. Smith supposed that my appearance 

 amongst them, without the means of satis- 

 fying any of their desires, would give them 

 an unfavourable impression respecting the 

 expedition, which would make them indif- 

 ferent to exertion, if it did not even cause 

 them to withdraw from their engagements. 



The establishments at this place, Forts 

 Chipewyan and Wedderburne, the chief 

 posts of the Companies in this department, 

 are conveniently situated for communicating 

 with the Slave and Peace Rivers, from 

 whence the canoes assemble in the spring 

 and autumn ; on the first occasion they 

 bring the collection of furs which has been 

 made at the different out-posts during the 

 winter ; and at the latter season they receive 



