OF THE POLAR SEA. 



109 



to five bales; for four of which we were 

 indebted to Mr. Mac Leod of the North- 

 West Company who shared with us the 

 ammunition absolutely required for the sup- 

 port of his post ; receiving in exchange an 

 order for the same quantity upon the cargo 

 which we expected to follow us from York 

 Factory. We had heard from Mr. Stuart 

 that Fort Chipewyan was too much im- 

 poverished to supply the wants of the ex- 

 pedition, and we found Isle a la Crosse 

 in the same condition ; which, indeed, we 

 might have foreseen, from the exhausted 

 state of Cumberland House, but could not 

 have provided against. We never had heard 

 before our departure from York, that the 

 posts in the interior only received annually 

 the stores necessary for the consumption of 

 a single year. It was fortunate for us that 

 Mr. Franklin had desired ten bags of pemmi- 

 can to be sent from the Saskatchawan across 

 the plains to Isle a la Crosse for our use. 

 This resource was untouched, but we could 

 not embark more than five pieces in our own 

 canoes. However, Mr. Mac Leod agreed 



