356 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



their canoes and baggage on their backs ; but they turned and fled 

 as soon as they perceived our tents. The appearance of so many 

 different bands of Esquimaux terrified the Indians to such a de- 

 gree, that they determined on leaving us the next day, lest they 

 should be surrounded and their retreat cut off. I endeavoured, by 

 the offer of any remuneration they would choose, to prevail upon 

 one or two of the hunters to proceed, but in vain ; and I had much 

 difficulty even in obtaining their promise to wait at the Copper 

 Mountains for Mr. Wentzel and the four men, whom I intended to 

 discharge at the sea. 



The fears which our interpreters, St. Germain and Adam, enter- 

 tained respecting the voyage, were now greatly increased, and both 

 of them came this evening to request their discharges, urging that 

 their services could be no longer requisite, as the Indians were going 

 from us. St. Germain even said that he had understood he was 

 only engaged to accompany us as long as the Indians did, and per- 

 sisted in this falsehood until his agreement to go with us throughout 

 the voyage had been twice read to him. As these were the only 

 two of the party on whose skill in hunting we could rely, I was 

 unable to listen for a moment to their desire of quitting us, and lest 

 they should leave us by stealth, their motions were strictly watched. 

 This was not an unnecessary precaution, as I was informed that they 

 had actually laid a plan for eloping ; but the rest of the men knowing 

 that their own safety would have been compromised had they suc- 

 ceeded, kept a watchful eye over them. We knew that the dread 

 of the Esquimaux would prevent these men from leaving us as soon 

 as the Indians were at a distance, and we trusted to their becoming 

 reconciled to the journey when once the novelty of a sea voyage had 

 worn off. 



July 18. — As the Indians persevered in their determination of 

 setting out this morning, I reminded them, through Mr. Wentzel 

 and St. Germain, of the necessity of our having the deposit of pro*- 



