Seeking Pond’s Outlet 33

of suitable articles of merchandise as presents to ensure a
friendly reception among the Indians. Arms and ammuni-
tion in sufficient quantity, both for defence and hunting,
formed a very important part of the equipment, since it was
intended at every opportunity to supplement the supplies by
fishing and hunting. A mast and lug-sail, and ten-foot,
iron-shod setting-poles for each man, an extra number of
towing-lines, tents, blankets, camp-kettles, a bundle of
““watape”’ for stitching up seams, gum for repairs, hatchets,
a crooked-knife and a few other indispensable articles
completed the load, all of which were protected from the
rain and incidental splashings by sheets of oil-cloth lashed
to the thwarts.

The voyageurs who formed the crew were Francois
Barrieu, Pierre de Lorme, Charles Ducette, and Joseph
Landry. The Indian wives of two of the voyageurs, and a
young German, John Steinbruck, had places in Mackenzie’s
canoe, which thus carried eight people in addition to its
load of goods.

A Chipewyan chief with his two wives and two young
Indians occupied a second canoe. “English Chief’’ had
often led his people on fur-trading jaunts all the way to
Fort Churchill and, because of his trade relations with the
English on Hudson Bay, he had earned the sobriquet of
which he was very vain. As he was the most intelligent,
travelled Indian available, and had the prestige of a leader
among his people, he was selected as guide, interpreter and
general supervisor of the native hunters who accompanied
the expedition. His followers had a third canoe. M. Le Roux,
the clerk, was in charge of another, loaded with goods for
the trade on Slave Lake. He carried in addition a part of
the supplies intended for the voyage.

As second in command the clerk gave the word to stand