OF THE POLAR SEA. 



195 



tribe near to the river, from whom the 

 party could get provision. Our next ob- 

 ject was to despatch the Indians to their 

 hunting-ground to collect provision for us, 

 and to procure the fat of the deer for our 

 use during the winter, and for making the 

 pemmican we should require in the spring. 

 They were therefore furnished with some 

 ammunition, clothing, and other necessary 

 articles, and directed to take their departure 

 as soon as possible. 



Akaitcho came into our tent this evening 

 at supper, and made several pertinent in- 

 quiries respecting the eclipse, of which we 

 had spoken last night. He desired to 

 know the effect that would be produced, 

 and the cause of it, which we endeavoured 

 to explain ; and having gained this informa- 

 tion, he sent for several of his companions, 

 that they might also have it repeated to 

 them. They were most astonished at our 

 knowing the time at which this event should 

 happen, and remarked that this knowledge 

 was a striking proof of the superiority of 

 the whites over the Indians. We took 

 o 2 



