hands in the air, and accompanying their motions with much
shouting, to signify, I conceive, their desire of peace; Our mem
saluted them by pulling off their hats, and making bows, but neither
party was willing to approach the other ; and, at length, the
Esquimaux retired to the hill, from whence they had descended
when first seen. We proceeded in the hope of gaining an interview
with them, but lest our appearance in a body should alarm them, we
advanced in a long-line, at the head of which was Augustus. We
were led to their baggage, which they had deserted, by the howling
of the dogs; and on the summit of the hill we found, lying behind a
stone, an old man who was too infirm to effect his escape with the
rest. He was much terrified when Augustus advanced, and probably
expected immediate death ; but that the fatal blow might not be
unrevenged, he seized his spear, and made- a thrust with it at his
supposed enemy. Augustus, however, easily repressed the feeble
effort, and soon calmed his fears by presenting him with some pieces
of iron, and assuring him of his friendly intentions. Dr. Richardson
and I then joined them, and, after receiving our presents, the old
man was quite composed,, and became communicative. His dialect
differed from that used by Augustus, but they understood each other
tolerably we!.
It appeared that his party consisted of eight men and their
families, who were returning from a hunting excursion with dried
meat. After being told who we were, he said, that he had heard of
white people from different parties of his nation which resided on
the' sea-coast to the eastward; and to our inquiries respecting the
provision and fuel we might expect to! get on our voyage; he informed
us that the rein-deer frequent the coast during summer, the fish are
plentiful at the mouths of the rivers, the seals are abundant, but
there are no sea-horses nor whales, although he remembered one of
the latter,, which had been ki!ed by some distant tribe, having been
driven on shore on his part of the coast by a gale of wind. That