OF THE POLAR SEA. 



261 



As they were pretty well aware that such 

 a circumstance could not long be concealed 

 from us, one of them came the next morn- 

 ing with an artful apology for their conduct. 

 He stated, that as they knew it was my in- 

 tention to treat them with a dram on the 

 commencement of the new year, they had 

 helped themselves to a small quantity on 

 that day, trusting to my goodness for for- 

 giveness ; and being unwilling to act harshly 

 at this period, I did forgive them, after 

 admonishing them to be very circumspect 

 in their future conduct. 



The ammuni tiorffand a small present of 

 rum, were sent to Akaitcho. 



On the 18th, Vaillant, the woodman, had 

 the misfortune to break his axe. This 

 would have been a serious evil a few weeks 

 sooner, but we had just received some 

 others from Slave Lake. 



On the 27th, Mr. Wentzel and St. Ger- 

 main arrived with the two Esquimaux, 

 Tattannceuck and Hceootcerock (the belly 

 and the ear). The English names, which 

 were bestowed upon them at Fort Churchill 



