304 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



conduct could not be properly discussed at the distance we were 

 from his fort ; that no dependance ought to be placed on the vague 

 reports that floated through the Indian territory; that, for our 

 part, although we had heard many stories to his (Akaitcho's) dis- 

 advantage, we discredited them all ; that the rum we had sent him, 

 being what the great men in England were accustomed to drink, 

 was of a milder kind, but, in fact, stronger than what he had been 

 accustomed to receive ; and that the distance we had come, and the 

 speed with which we travelled, precluded us from bringing large 

 quantities of goods like the traders; that this had been fully ex- 

 plained to him when he agreed to accompany us ; and that, in con- 

 sideration of his not receiving his usual spring outfit, his debts to 

 the Company had been cancelled, and a present, much greater than 

 any he had ever received before, ordered to be got ready for his 

 return. He was further informed, that we were much disappointed 

 in not receiving any dried meat from him, an article indispensable 

 for our summer voyage, and which, he had led us to believe there 

 was no difficulty in procuring ; and that, in fact, his complaints 

 were so groundless, in comparison with the real injury we sustained 

 from the want of supplies, that we were led to believe they were 

 preferred solely for the purpose of cloaking his own want of atten- 

 tion to the terms of his engagement. He then shifted his ground, 

 and stated, that if we attempted to make a voyage along the sea- 

 coast we would inevitably perish ; and he advised us strongly against 

 persisting in the attempt. This part of his harangue being an 

 exact transcript of the sentiments formerly expressed by our inter- 

 preters, induced us to conclude that they had prompted his present 

 line of conduct, by telling him, that we had goods or rum con- 

 cealed. He afterwards received a portion of our dinner, in the 

 manner he had been accustomed to do, and seemed inclined to 

 make up matters with us in the course of the evening, provided 

 we added to the present offered to him. Being told, however, 



