OF THE POLAR SEA. 



201 



canoes were exposed to the hazard of being broken by the numerous 

 sunken rocks, which were scattered in our track. We encamped 

 for the night on a rocky island, and by eight A.M. on the following 

 morning, arrived at Fort Providence, which is situated twenty-one 

 miles from the entrance of the bay. The post is exclusively occupied 

 by the North- West Company, the Hudson's Bay Company having 

 no settlement to the northward of Great Slave Lake. We found 

 Mr. Wentzel and our interpreter Jean Baptiste Adam here, with 

 one of the Indian guides : but the chief of the tribe and his hunters 

 were encamped with their families, some miles from the fort, in a 

 good situation for fishing. Our arrival was announced to him by a 

 fire on the top of a hill, and before night a messenger came to com- 

 municate his intention of seeing ns next morning. The customary 

 present, of tobacco and some other articles, was immediately sent 

 to him. 



Mr. Wentzel prepared me for the first conference with the Indians 

 by mentioning all the information they had already given to him. 

 The duties allotted to this gentleman were, the management of the 

 Indians, the superintendence of the Canadian voyagers, the ob- 

 taining, and the general distribution, of the provision, and the issue 

 of the other stores. These services he was well qualified to perform, 

 having been accustomed to execute similar duties, during a residence 

 of upwards of twenty years in this country. We also deemed Mr. 

 Wentzel to be a great acquisition to our party, as a check on the 

 interpreters, he being one of the few traders who speak the Chi- 

 pewyan language. 



As we were informed that external appearances made lasting 

 impressions on the Indians, we prepared for the interview by deco- 

 rating ourselves in uniform, and suspending a medal round each of 

 our necks. Our tents had been previously pitched, and over one of 

 them a silken union flag was hoisted. Soon after noon, on July 3 0th, 

 several Indian canoes were seen advancing in a regular line, and on 



