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C H A P . and with great reluctance left this remarkable point without being able
to leave any traces of our having visited it for Captain Franklin. The
wind about one i>. m. began gradually to fall, and at two it w-as perfectly
calm. Unfortunately we w'cre now in too much water to anchor, and
w ere, without the possibility of helping it, being set to the N . E. by
the current at the rate of three miles and a half an hour. By four
o’clock w'C had lost all we had made during the day, with a prospect,
if it continued calm, of being drifted quite off the land—an accident
that, had it occurred, would have placed our Httle vessel in a very serious
situation. YVe were not, however, long in this state of suspense; for an
air came again from the eastward, which strengthening a little, and
the boat ahead towing, w-e made good progress tow-ards the land, where,
if it once more fell calm, w-e could retain our position with the anchor.
YY’hen w-e had by towing and pulling got within a mile of the beach
(and about two miles west of the point), nineteen of the natives came
down opposite us, armed with bows, arrows, and spears, and imagining
that it was our intention to land motioned us to keep off; and
seemed quite prepared for hostilities. Some of them w-ere stripped
almost naked. They preserved a greater silence than we found customary
among them, one only speaking at a time, and apparently
interrogating us. Notwithstanding this show of resistance, we still advanced
nearer to the shore, as being more out of the current and favour-
■able to our views, at the same time having the arms in readiness in
case of an attack.
YY"hen within about thirty yards of the beach, w-e lost the wind,
and continued pulling and towing along shore, the natives walking
abreast of us upon the beach. At eight r. m . we passed a village of
eight tents and four boats, but saw- neither women nor children. YY"hilst
approaching this village, we perceived the men hauling their baidars
higher up on the beach, fearful, as we supposed, that w-e should molest
them. Their dogs, as usual, set up a most abominable yelling. About
eleven our pedestrians began to lag, and shortly after made a general
halt, watched us for a little while, and then turned back. At midnight
we reached Cape Smyth, and considering ourselves tolerably well secure
from the ice (not having seen any until our arrival off this point on the
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