OF THE POLAR SEA. 



475 



autumn ; and at all events," he added, in a tone of good-humour ? 

 " it is the first time that the white people have been indebted to 

 the Copper Indians." We assured him the supplies should cer- 

 tainly be sent to him by the autumn, if not before. He then 

 cheerfully received the small present we made to himself; and, 

 although we could give a few things only to those who had been 

 most active in our service, the others who, perhaps, thought them- 

 selves equally deserving, did not murmur at being left out in the 

 distribution. Akaitcho afterwards expressed a strong desire, that we 

 should represent the character of his nation in a favourable light to 

 our countrymen. " I know," he said, " you write down every 

 occurrence in your books ; but probably you have only noticed the 

 bad things we have said and done, and have omitted to mention 

 the good." In the course of the desultory conversation which 

 ensued, he said, that he had been always told by us, to consider 

 the traders in the same light as ourselves ; and that, for his part, he 

 looked upon both as equally respectable. This assurance, made in 

 the presence of Mr. Weeks, was particularly gratifying to us, as it 

 completely disproved the defence that had been set up, respecting 

 the injurious reports that had been circulated against us amongst the 

 Indians in the spring ; namely, that they were in retaliation for our 

 endeavours to lower the traders in the eyes of the Indians. I take 

 this opportunity of stating my opinion, that Mr. Weeks, in spread- 

 ing these reports, was actuated by a mistaken idea that he was 

 serving the interest of his employers. On the present occasion, we 

 felt indebted to him for the sympathy he displayed for our dis- 

 tresses, and the kindness with which he administered to our per- 

 sonal wants. After this conference, such Indians as were indebted 

 to the Company were paid for the provision they had given us, by 

 deducting a corresponding sum from their debts ; in the same way 

 we gave a reward of sixteen skins of beaver to each of the persons 

 who had come to our relief at Fort Enterprise. As the debts of 



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