Of the new year
they had helped themselves to a small quantity on that day, trusting to
my goodness for forgiveness and, being unwilling to act harshly at this
period, I did forgive them after admonishing them to be very circumspect
in their future conduct.
The ammunition and a small present of rum were sent to Akaitcho.
On the 18th Vaillant the woodman had the misfortune to break his axe.
This would have been a serious evil a few weeks sooner but we had just
received some others from Slave Lake.
On the 27th Mr. Wentzel and St. Germain arrived with the two Esquimaux,
Attannoeuck and Hoeootoerock (the belly and the ear). The English names
which were bestowed upon them at Fort Churchill in commemoration of the
months of their arrival there are Augustus and Junius. The former speaks
English.
We now learned that Mr. Back proceeded with Beauparlant to Fort Chipewyan
on the 24th of December to procure stores, having previously discharged
J. Belleau from our service at his own request and according to my
directions. I was the more induced to comply with this man's desire of
leaving us as he proved to be too weak to perform the duty of bowman
which he had undertaken.
Four dogs were brought up by this party and proved a great relief to our
wood-haulers during the remainder of the season.
By the arrival of Mr. Wentzel who is an excellent musician and assisted
us (con amore) in our attempts to amuse the men we were enabled to
gratify the whole establishment with an occasional dance. Of this
amusement the voyagers were very fond and not the less so as it was now
and then accompanied by a dram as long as our rum lasted.
On the 5th of February two Canadians came from Akaitcho for fresh
supplies of ammunition. We were mortified to learn that he had received
some further unpleasant reports concerning us from Fort Providence and
that his faith in our good intentions was somewhat shaken. He expressed
himself dissatisfied with the quantity of ammunition we had sent him,
accused us of an intention of endeavouring to degrade him in the eyes of
his tribe, and informed us that Mr. Weeks had refused to pay some notes
for trifling quantities of goods and ammunition that had been given to
the hunters who accompanied our men to Slave Lake.
Some powder and shot and a keg of diluted spirits were sent to him with
the strongest assurances of our regard.
On the 12th another party of six men was sent to Fort Providence to bring
up the remaining stores. St. Germain went to Akaitcho for the purpose of
sending two of his hunters to join this party on its route.
