186 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



had stored up only fifteen rein-deer for us. 

 St. Germain informed us that having heard 

 of the death of the chief's brother-in-law, 

 they had spent several days in bewailing 

 his loss, instead of hunting. We learned 

 also, that the decease of this man had caused 

 another party of the tribe who had been 

 sent by Mr. Wentzel to prepare provision 

 for us on the banks of the Copper-Mine 

 River, to remove to the shores of the Great 

 Bear Lake, distant from our proposed route. 

 Mortifying as these circumstances were, 

 they produced less painful sensations than 

 we experienced in the evening, by the refusal 

 of Akaitcho to accompany us in the proposed 

 descent of the Copper-Mine River. When 

 Mr. Wentzel, by my direction, communi- 

 cated to him my intention of proceeding at 

 once on that service, he desired a conference 

 with me upon the subject, which being im- 

 mediately granted, he began, by stating that 

 the very attempt would be rash and dan- 

 gerous, as the weather was cold, the leaves 

 were falling, some geese had passed to the 

 southward, and the winter would shortly 



