structed their winter residences in i t ; they were very numerous, and
extended some way along the coast. The season, however, was not
yet arrived at which the Esquimaux take up their abode in their subterranean
habitations, and they occupied skin tents upon a low point at
the entrance of the lake. We had not been long offhere before three
baidars from the village paddled alongside and bartered their articles as
usual. Some of the crew ascended the side of the ship without any invitation,
and showed not the least surprise at any thing they beheld;
W'hich I could not help particularly remarking, as we were not conscious
of any other vessel having been upon the coast since Kotzebue’s voyage,
and he did not reach within two hundred miles of the residence of these
people. There was nothing in our visiters different to what we had seen
before, except that they were better dressed. One of them, pointing to
the shore, drew his hand round the northern horizon as far as the southwest,
by which he no doubt intended to instruct us that the ice
occupied that space. It would, however, have answered equally well
for the land, supposing the coast beyond what we saw to have taken a
circuitous direction. With the view of having this explained, I took
him to the side of the ship on which the land was, and intimated a desire
that he would delineate the coast; but he evidently did not underl
stand me, as he and his companions licked their hands, stroked their
breasts, and then went into their boats and paddled on shore.
The apparently good-natured disposition of these people, and
indeed of the whole of their tribe upon the coast to this advanced
position, was a source of the highest gratification to us all as it regarded
Captain Franklin’s welfare; for it was natural to conclude that
the whole race, which we had reason to think extended a considerable
distance to the eastward, wovdd partake of the same friendly feeling,
and what was by many considered a material obstacle to his success
would thereby be removed. At this place in particular, where the
natives appeared to be so numerous that they could have overpowered
his party in a minute, it was gratifying to find them so well
disposed.
After the natives were gone we stood to the north-westward in
the hope that the wind, which had been a long time in the north-eastern
quarter, would remain steady until we ascertained the point of con- CHAP,
junction of the ice and the land, which, from its position when seen in
the morning, there was much reason to suppose would be near the extreme
August,
1826.
point of land in view from the mast-head. Unfortunately, while
we were doing this, the wind fell light, and graduaUy drew round to
the north-westward; and apprehending it might get so far in that
direction as to embay the ship between the land and the ice, it became
my duty to consider the propriety of awaiting the result of such a
change; knowing the necessity of keeping the ship in open water, and
at all times, as far as could be done, free from risk, in order to insure
her return to the rendezvous in Kotzebue Sound. There was at this
time no ice in sight from the ship except a berg that was aground
inshore of her; anil though a blink round the northern horizon indicated
ice in that direction, yet the prospect was so flattering that a general
regret was entertained that an attempt to effect the north-eastern
passage did not form the object of the expedition. We all felt the
greatest desire to advance, but considering what would be the consequences
of any accident befalling the ship, which might either oblige
her to quit these seas at once, or prevent her returning to them a
second year, it was evident that her being kept in open water was paramount
to every other consideration ; particularly as she had been furnished
with a decked launch, well adapted by her size to prosecute a
service of this nature. It was one of those critical situations iu which
an officer is sometimes unavoidably placed, and had further discovery
depended upon the Blossom alone, it is probable I shoidd have proceeded
at all hazards. My orders, however, being positive to avoid the
chance of being beset in the ship, I considered only how I could most
beneficially employ both vessels, and, at the same time, comply with
the spirit of my instructions. Thus circumstanced, I determined to
get hold of the barge as soon as possible, and to despatch her along the
coast, both with a view of rendering Captain Franklin’s party the
earliest possible assistance, and of ascertaining how far it was possible
for a boat to go. Not a moment was to be lost in putting this project
in execution, as the middle of August was arrived, and we could not
calculate on a continuance of the fine weather with which we had
X N 2