They were engaged to attend us till Mr.Franklin should think fit to discharge them, and bound under the usual penalties in case of disobedience, or other improper conduct.

These poor people entertained such dread of a ship of war, that they stipulated not to be embarked in Lieutenant Parry's vessels, if we should find them on the coast; a condition with which they would gladly have dispensed had that desirable event taken place.
As we required a Canadian foreman and steersman for the other canoe, we were compelled to wait for the appearance of the Isle a la Crosse canoes under Mr.Clark.
On the 8th Mr.Williams embarked for York Fort.

He gave us a circular letter addressed to the Chiefs of the Hudson's Bay Company's Posts, directing them to afford us all possible assistance on our route, and he promised to exert every endeavour to forward the Esquimaux interpreter, upon whom the success of our journey so much depended.

He was accompanied by eight boats.

With him we sent our collections of plants, minerals, charts, and drawings, to be transmitted to England by the Hudson's Bay ships.