474 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



for some distance, which was very fatiguing, especially to Dr. Richard- 

 son, whose feet were severely galled in consequence of some defect 

 in his snow-shoes. 



On the 1 1th, however, we arrived at the Fort ; it was still under 

 the charge of Mr. Weeks. He welcomed us in the most kind 

 manner, immediately gave us changes of dress, and did every thing 

 in his power to make us comfortable. 



Our sensations, on being once more in a comfortable dwelling, 

 after the series of hardships and miseries we had experienced, will 

 be much better imagined than any language of mine can describe 

 them. Our first act was again to return our grateful praises to 

 the Almighty for the manifold instances of his mercy towards us. 

 Having found here some articles, which Mr. Back had sent across 

 from Moose-deer Island, I determined on awaiting the arrival of 

 Akaitcho and his party, in order to present these to them, and to 

 assure them of the promised reward, as soon as it could possibly be 

 procured. 



In the afternoon of the 14th, Akaitcho, with his whole band, 

 came to the Fort. He smoked his customary pipe, and made an 

 address to Mr. Weeks in the hall, previous to his coming into the 

 room in which Dr. Richardson and I were. We discovered at the 

 commencement of his speech to us, that he had been informed that 

 our expected supplies had not come. He spoke of this circumstance 

 as a disappointment, indeed, sufficiently severe to himself, to whom 

 his band looked up for the protection of their interests, but without 

 attaching any blame to us. " The world goes badly," he said, " all 

 are poor, you are poor, the traders appear to be poor, I and my 

 party are poor likewise ; and since the goods have not come in, we 

 cannot have them. I do not regret having supplied you with pro- 

 visions, for a Copper Indian can never permit white men to suffer 

 from want of food on his lands, without flying to their aid. I trust, 

 however, that we shall, as you say, receive what is due next 



