OF THE POLAR SEA. 



313 



hazard of breaking the bark. This day one of the new trading guns 

 which we had recently received from Fort Chipewyan, burst in the 

 hands of a young Indian ; fortunately, however, without doing him 

 any material injury. This is the sixth accident of the kind which 

 has occurred to us since our departure from Slave Lake. Surely 

 this deficiency in the quality of the guns, which hazards the lives 

 of so many poor Indians, requires the serious consideration of the 

 principals of the trading Companies. 



On the 4th, at three in the morning, the party under the charge 

 of Dr. Richardson started. It consisted of fifteen voyagers, three of 

 them conducting dog sledges, Baldhead and Basil, two Indian 

 hunters with their wives, Akaiyazzeh a sick Indian and his wife, 

 together with Angelique and Boulante ; so that the party consisted 

 of twenty- three exclusive of children. 



The burdens of the men were about eighty pounds each, 

 exclusive of their personal baggage which amounted to nearly as 

 much more. Most of them dragged their loads upon sledges, but a 

 few preferred carrying them on their backs. They set off in high 

 spirits. 



After breakfast the Indians struck their tents, and the women, the 

 boys, and the old men who had to drag sledges, took their departure. 

 It was three P.M., however, before Akaitcho and the hunters left 

 us. We issued thirty balls to the leader, and twenty to each of the 

 hunters and guides, with a proportionate quantity of powder, and 

 gave them directions to make all the provision they could on their 

 way to Point Lake. I then desired Mr. Wentzel to inform Akaitcho 

 in the presence of the other Indians, that I wished a deposit of 

 provision to be made at this place previous to next September, as 

 a resource should we return this way. He and the guides not 

 only promised to see this done, but suggested that it would be more 

 secure if placed in the cellar, or in Mr. Wentzel's room. The Dog- 

 ribs, they said, would respect any thing that was in the house as 

 knowing it to belong to the white people. At the close of this con- 



2 S 



