142 



JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



a residence of upwards of twenty years in 

 this country. We also deemed Mr. Wentzel 

 to be a great acquisition to our party, as a 

 check on the interpreters, he being one of 

 the few traders who speak the Chipewyan 

 language. 



As we were informed that external ap- 

 pearances made lasting impressions on the 

 Indians, we prepared for the interview by 

 decorating ourselves in uniform, and sus- 

 pending a medal round each of our necks. 

 Our tents had been previously pitched and 

 over one of them a silken union flag was 

 hoisted. Soon after noon, on July 30th, 

 several Indian canoes were seen advancing 

 in a regular line, and on their approach, the 

 chief was discovered in the headmost, which 

 was paddled by two men. On landing at 

 the fort, the chief assumed a very grave 

 aspect, and walked up to Mr. Wentzel with 

 a measured and dignified step, looking nei- 

 ther to the right nor to the left, at the per- 

 sons who had assembled on the beach to 

 witness his debarkation, but preserving the 

 same immoveability of countenance until he 



