CHAPTER V.
Transactions at Fort Chipewyan--Arrival of Dr.Richardson and Mr.
Hood--Preparations for our journey to the Northward.
1820.

March 26.
On the day after our arrival at Fort Chipewyan we called upon Mr.Mac Donald, the gentleman in charge of the Hudson's Bay Establishment called Fort Wedderburne, and delivered to him Governor Williams's circular Letter, which desired that every assistance should be given to further our progress, and a statement of the requisitions which we should have to make on his post.
Our first object was to obtain some certain information respecting our future route; and accordingly we received from one of the North-West Company's interpreters, named Beaulieu, a half-breed, who had been brought up amongst the Dog-ribbed and Copper Indians, some satisfactory information which we afterwards found tolerably correct, respecting the mode of reaching the Copper-Mine{37} River, which he had descended a considerable way, as well as of the course of that river to its mouth.
The Copper Indians, however, he said, would be able to give us more accurate information as to the latter part of its course, as they occasionally pursue it to the sea.

He sketched on the floor a representation of the river, and a line of coast according to his idea of it.

Just as he had finished, an old Chipewyan Indian named Black Meat, unexpectedly came in, and instantly recognised the plan.

He then took the charcoal from Beaulieu, and inserted a track along the sea-coast, which he had followed in returning from a war excursion, made by his tribe against the Esquimaux.