Obtained other information that would have had
great influence on our future proceedings.
I must confess however that my opinion of the probability of our being
able to attain so great a desideratum this season had been somewhat
altered by the recent changes in the weather although, had the chief been
willing to accompany us with his party, I should have made the attempt,
with the intention however of returning immediately upon the first
decided appearance of winter.
On the morning of August 27th, having communicated my sentiments to the
officers on the subject of the conference last evening, they all agreed
that the descent to the sea this season could not be attempted without
hazarding a complete rupture with the Indians; but they thought that a
party should be sent to ascertain the distance and size of the
Copper-Mine River. These opinions being in conformity with my own I
determined on despatching Messrs. Back and Hood on that service in a
light canoe as soon as possible.
We witnessed this morning an instance of the versatility of our Indian
companions which gave us much uneasiness as it regarded the safety of our
faithful attendant Hepburn. When they heard on their arrival last night
of his having been so long absent they expressed the greatest solicitude
about him, and the whole party immediately volunteered to go in search of
him as soon as daylight permitted. Their resolutions however seem to have
been changed in consequence of the subsequent conversation we had with
the chief, and we found all of them indisposed to proceed on that errand
this morning; and it was only by much entreaty that three of the hunters
and a boy were prevailed upon to go. They fortunately succeeded in their
search and we were infinitely rejoiced to see Hepburn return with them in
the afternoon, though much jaded by the fatigue he had undergone. He had
got bewildered, as we had conjectured, in the foggy weather on the 25th,
and had been wandering about ever since except during half an hour that
he slept yesterday. He had eaten only a partridge and some berries for
his anxiety of mind had deprived him of appetite; and of a deer which he
had shot he took only the tongue, and the skin to protect himself from
the wind and rain. This anxiety we learned from him was occasioned by the
fear that the party which was about to descend the Copper-Mine River
might be detained until he was found, or that it might have departed
without him. He did not entertain any dread of the white bears of whose
numbers and ferocious attacks the Indians had been constantly speaking
since we had entered the barren grounds. Our fears for his safety however
were in a considerable degree excited by the accounts we had received of
these animals.
