228 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



in a considerable degree excited by the accounts we had received 

 of these animals. Having made a hearty supper he retired to rest, 

 slept soundly, and arose next morning in perfect health. 



On the 28th of August Akaitcho was informed of our intention to 

 send the party to the river, and of the reasons for doing so, of which 

 he approved, when he found that I had relinquished the idea of 

 going myself, in compliance with the desire which he and the In- 

 dians had expressed ; and he immediately said two of the hunters 

 should go to provide them with food on the journey, and to serve as 

 guides. During this conversation we gathered from him, for the 

 first time, that there might still be some of his tribe near to the 

 river, from whom the party could get provision. Our next object 

 was to despatch the Indians to their hunting-ground to collect pro- 

 vision 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 de- 

 parture as soon as possible. 



Akaitcho came into our tent this evening at supper, and made 

 several pertinent inquiries 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 information, he sent for several of his com- 

 panions, 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 advantage 

 of this occasion to speak to them respecting the Supreme Being, who 

 ordered all the operations of nature, and to impress on their minds 

 the necessity of paying strict attention to their moral duties, in obe- 

 dience to his will. They readily assented to all these points, and 

 Akaitcho assured us that both himself and his young men would 



