He now wished to be informed exactly of the nature of our Expedition.
In reply to this speech, which I understood had been prepared for many days, I endeavoured to explain the objects of our mission in a manner best calculated to ensure his exertions in our service.

With this view I told him that we were sent out by the greatest chief in the world who was the sovereign also of the trading companies in the country; that he was the friend of peace and had the interest of every nation at heart.

Having learned that his children in the north were much in want of articles of merchandise, in consequence of the extreme length and difficulty of the present route, he had sent us to search for a passage by the sea which, if found, would enable large vessels to transport great quantities of goods more easily to their lands.

That we had not come for the purpose of traffic but solely to make discoveries for their benefit as well as that of every other people.

That we had been directed to inquire into the nature of all the productions of the countries we might pass through and particularly respecting their inhabitants.