It appeared that in their intercourse with the Indians they had
contracted very fearful ideas of the danger of our enterprise which
augmented as the time of our departure drew near, and had not hesitated
to express their dislike to the journey in strong terms amongst the
Canadians, who are accustomed to pay much deference to the opinions of an
interpreter. But this was not all; I had reason to suspect they had
endeavoured to damp the exertions of the Indians with the hope that the
want of provision in the spring would put an end to our progress at once.
St. Germain in particular had behaved in a very equivocal way since his
journey to Slave Lake. He denied the principal parts of the charge in a
very dogged manner but acknowledged he had told the leader that we had
not paid him the attention which a chief like him ought to have received;
and that we had put a great affront on him in sending him only a small
quantity of rum. An artful man like St. Germain, possessing a flow of
language and capable of saying even what he confessed, had the means of
poisoning the minds of the Indians without committing himself by any
direct assertion; and it is to be remarked that, unless Mr. Wentzel had
possessed a knowledge of the Copper Indian language, we should not have
learned what we did.
Although perfectly convinced of his baseness I could not dispense with
his services; and had no other resource but to give him a serious
admonition and desire him to return to his duty, after endeavouring to
work upon his fears by an assurance that I would certainly convey him to
England for trial if the Expedition should be stopped through his fault.
He replied, "It is immaterial to me where I lose my life, whether in
England or in accompanying you to the sea, for the whole party will
perish." After this discussion however he was more circumspect in his
conduct.
On the 28th we received a small supply of meat from the Indian lodges.
They had now moved into a lake about twelve miles from us, in expectation
of the deer coming soon to the northward.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOURNEY TO THE NORTHWARD.
On the 29th Akaitcho arrived at the house, having been sent for to make
some arrangements respecting the procuring of provision and that we might
learn what his sentiments were with regard to accompanying us on our
future journey. Next morning we had a conference which I commenced by
showing him the charts and drawings that were prepared to be sent to
England, and explaining fully our future intentions. He appeared much
pleased at this mark of attention and, when his curiosity was satisfied,
began his speech by saying that although a vast number of idle rumours
had been floating about the barren grounds during the winter he was
convinced that the representations made to him at Fort Providence
regarding the purport of the Expedition were perfectly correct. I next
pointed out to him the necessity of our proceeding with as little delay
as possible during the short period of the year that was fit for our
operations, and that to do so it was requisite we should have a large
supply of provisions at starting. He instantly admitted the force of
these observations and promised that he and his young men should do their
utmost to comply with our desires, and afterwards in answer to my
questions informed us that he would accompany the Expedition to the mouth
of the Copper-Mine River or, if we did not meet with Esquimaux there, for
some distance along the coast; he was anxious he said to have an amicable
interview with that people, and he further requested that, in the event
of our meeting with Dog-Ribs on the Copper-Mine River, we should use our
influence to persuade them to live on friendly terms with his tribe. We
were highly pleased to find his sentiments so favourable to our views
and, after making some minor arrangements, we parted mutually content. He
left us on the morning of the 31st, accompanied by Augustus who, at his
request, went to reside for a few days at his lodge.
On the 4th of April our men arrived with the last supply of goods from
Fort Providence, the fruits of Mr. Back's arduous journey to the
Athabasca Lake, and on the 17th Belanger le gros and Belanger le rouge,
for so our men discriminated them, set out for Slave Lake with a box
containing the journals of the officers, charts, drawings, observations,
and letters addressed to the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs.
They also conveyed a letter for Governor Williams in which I requested
that he would if possible send a schooner to Wager Bay with provisions
and clothing to meet the exigencies of the party should they succeed in
reaching that part of the coast.
Connoyer, who was much tormented with biliary calculi and had done little
or no duty all the winter, was discharged at the same time and sent down
in company with an Indian named the Belly.
The commencement of April was fine and for several days a considerable
thaw took place in the heat of the sun which, laying bare some of the
lichens on the sides of the hills, produced a consequent movement of the
reindeer to the northward and induced the Indians to believe that the
spring was already commencing. Many of them therefore quitted the woods
and set their snares on the barren grounds near Fort Enterprise. Two or
three days of cold weather however towards the middle of the month damped
their hopes, and they began to say that another moon must elapse before
the arrival of the wished-for season.
