310 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Indians attended divine service this day, and were attentive spec- 

 tators of our addresses to the throne of the Almighty. 



On the 28th I had a conversation with Long-legs, whose arrival 

 two days ago has been mentioned. I acquainted him with the 

 objects of our expedition, and our desire of promoting peace between 

 his nation and the Esquimaux, and learned from him, that his brother 

 the Hook was by this time on the Copper-Mine River with his party ; 

 and that, although he had little ammunition, yet it was possible he 

 might have some provision collected before our arrival at his tents. 

 I then decorated him with a medal similar to those given to the 

 other chiefs. He was highly pleased with this mark of our regard, 

 and promised to do every thing for us in his power. Akaitcho 

 came in during the latter part of our conversation, with a very 

 cheerful countenance. Jealousy of the Hook, and a knowledge of 

 the sentiments of the young men being different from his own, with 

 respect to the recent discussions, had combined to produce this 

 change in his conduct, and next morning he took an opportunity of 

 telling me that I must not think the worse of him for his impor- 

 tunities. It was their custom, he said, to do so, however strange 

 it might appear to us, and that he, as the leader of his party, had to 

 beg for them all ; but as he saw that we had not deceived him by 

 concealing any of our goods, and that we really had nothing left, he 

 should ask for no more. He then told me that he would set out 

 for the river as soon as the state of the country admitted of their 

 travelling. The snow, he remarked, was still too deep for sledges to 

 the northward, and the moss too wet to make fires. He was 

 seconded in this opinion by Long-legs, whom I was the more in- 

 clined to believe, from knowing that he was anxious to rejoin his 

 family as soon as possible. 



Akaitcho now accepted the dress he had formerly refused, and 

 next day clothed himself in another new suit, which he had received 

 from us in the autumn. Ever since his arrival at the fort, he had 



