OF THE POLAR SEA. 



493 



In a subsequent conversation he stated to me, that the two 

 Indians, who were actually with him at Fort Enterprise, whilst he 

 remained there altering his canoe, were prevented from hunting, 

 one by an accidental lameness, the other by the fear of meeting 

 alone some of the Dog-Eib Indians. 



We were here furnished with a canoe by Mr. Smith, and a bow- 

 man, to act as our guide ; and having left Fort Chipewyan on the 

 5th, we arrived, on the 4th of July, at Norway House. Finding, 



munication, that in this he had kept his word — in sending you with such promptitude and 

 liberality the assistance your truly dreadful situation required. But the party of Indians, 

 on whom I had placed the utmost confidence and dependance, was Humpy and the White 

 Capot Guide, with their sons, and several of the discharged hunters from the Expedition. 

 This party was well-disposed, and readily promised to collect provisions for the possible 

 return of the Expedition, provided they could get a supply of ammunition from Fort 

 Providence ; for when I came up with them they were actually starving, and converting 

 old axes into ball, having no other substitute — this was unlucky. Yet they were well 

 inclined, and I expected to find means at Fort Providence to send them a supply, in which 

 I was, however, disappointed, for I found that establishment quite destitute of neces- 

 saries ; and then, shortly after I had left them, they had the misfortune of losing three of 

 their hunters, who were drowned in Martin Lake : this accident was, of all others, the 

 most fatal that could have happened — a truth which no one, who has the least knowledge 

 of the Indian character, will deny ; and as they were nearly connected by relationship to 

 the Leader, Humpy, and White Capot Guide, the three leading men of this part of the 

 Copper Indian Tribe, it had the effect of unhinging (if I may use the expression) the 

 minds of all these families, and finally destroying all the fond hopes I had so sanguinely 

 conceived of their assisting the Expedition, should it come back by the Annadesse River, 

 of which they were not certain. 



" As to my not leaving a letter at Fort Enterprise, it was because, by some mischance, 

 you had forgot to give me paper when we parted *. 



" I however wrote this news on a plank, in pencil, and placed it in the top of your 

 former bedstead, where I left it. Since it has not been found there, some Indians must 

 have gone to the house after my departure, and destroyed it. These details, Sir, I have 

 been induced to enter into (rather unexpectedly) in justification of myself, and hope it will 

 be satisfactory."" 



* I certainly offered Mr. Wentzel some paper when he quitted us, but he declined it, having- then a 

 note-book ; and Mr. Back gave him a pencil. 



