OF THE POLAR SEA. 



241 



not the smallest probability of our being 

 able to reward the Indians when their term 

 of service was completed. Akaitcho, with 

 great good sense, instantly came to have the 

 matter explained, stating, at the same time, 

 that he could not credit it. I then pointed 

 out to him that Mr. Wentzel, with whom 

 they had long been accustomed to trade, 

 had pledged the credit of his Company for 

 the stipulated rewards to the party that 

 accompanied us, and that the trading debts 

 due by Akaitcho and his party had already 

 been remitted, which was of itself a sufficient 

 proof of our influence with the North- West 

 Company. I also reminded Akaitcho, that 

 our having caused the Esquimaux to be 

 brought up at a great expense, was evidence 

 of our future intentions, and informed him 

 that I should write to Mr. Smith, the senior 

 trader in the department on the subject, 

 when I had no doubt that a satisfactory 

 explanation would be given. The Indians 

 retired from the conference apparently 

 satisfied, but this business was in the end 

 productive of much inconvenience to us, 



VOL. II. R 



