OF THE POLAR SEA. 



135 



breadth is about two miles. The islands appear better furnished 

 with wood than its banks, the summits of which are almost bare. 

 Soon after we had encamped our Indian guide rejoined us; he had 

 remained behind yesterday, to accompany a friend on a hunting ex- 

 cursion, without consulting us. On his return this evening he made 

 no endeavour to explain the reason of his absence, but sat down 

 coolly, and began to prepare his supper. This behaviour made us 

 sensible that little dependence is to be placed on the continuance 

 of an Indian guide, when his inclination leads him away. 



Early the next morning we sent forward the Indian and a Ca- 

 nadian, to apprize the gentleman in charge of Pierre au Calumet of 

 our approach ; and, after breakfast, the rest of the party proceeded 

 along the river for the station, which we reached in the afternoon. 

 Mr. John Stuart was in charge of the post, the senior partner of the 

 North- West Company in the Athabasca department. Though he 

 was quite ignorant until this morning of our being in the country, 

 we found him prepared to receive us with great kindness, and ready 

 to afford every information and assistance, agreeably to the desire 

 conveyed in Mr. Simon M'Gillivray's circular letter. This gen- 

 tleman has twice traversed this continent, and reached the Pacific 

 by the Columbia River ; he was, therefore, fully conversant with the 

 different modes of travelling, and with the obstacles that may be 

 expected in passing through unfrequented countries. His sugges- 

 tions and advice were consequently very valuable to us. Not having 

 been to the northward of the Great Slave Lake, he had no know- 

 ledge of that line of country, except what he had gained from the 

 reports of Indians. He was of opinion, however, that positive in- 

 formation, on which our course of proceedings may safely be deter- 

 mined, may be procured from the Indians that frequent the north 

 side of the lake, but not before the spring when they come to the 

 forts. He recommended my writing to the partner in charge of 

 that department, requesting him to collect all the intelligence he 



