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™ ix ’' ^^totoenlyupon them, while in the pit, three o fth e party stood over the
workmen with their drawn knives, while the others rifled the pockets
Sept. of their jackets, which were lying at a little distance from the grave,
and carried away the contents, together with an axe. The hostile disposition
of the natives on the hill, who were drawn up in a line in a
menacing attitude, with their hows ready strung, and their knives in
their left hands, ohhged Mr. Smyth to arm his people, and, in compliance
with his instructions, to proceed to drive them off the island.
He accordingly advanced upon them, and each individual prohably
had singled out his victim, when an aged man of the Esquimaux party
made offers of peace, and the arms of both parties were laid aside.
The mediator signified that he wanted a tub, that had been left at the
well, which was restored to him, and the axe that had been taken from
the grave was returned to our party. The Esquimaux then embarked,
and paddled towards Escholtz Bay. I have been thus particular in
describing the conduct of these people, in consequence o fa more tragical
affair which occurred a few days afterwards.
Strong winds prevented the completion of our water for several
days; but on the 29th it was in progress, when the same party landed
upon the island near our boat. The day being very fine, several of the
officers had gone in pursuit of ptarmigan, which were about this time collecting
in large flocks previous to their migration; and I was completing
a series of magnetical observations in another part ofthe island. The first
lieutenant observing a baidar full of men approach the island, de.spatched
Lieutenant Belcher to the place with orders to send them away, provided
there were any of the party among them who had behaved in so disorderly
a manner on the recent occasion. On landing, he immediately recognised
one ofthe men, and ordered the whole ofthe party into the baidar.
They complied very reluctantly; and while our seamen were engaged
pushing them off, they were occupied in preparations for hostility, by
putting on their eider-duck frocks over their usual dresses, aud uncovering
their hows and arrows. They paddled a few yards from the
beach, and then rested in doubt as to what they should d o ; some menacing
our party, and others displaying their weapons. Thus threatened,
and the party making no attempt to depart, but rather propelling
their baidar sidewise toward the land, Mr. Belcher fired a ball between
them and the shore, and waved them to begone. Instead of obeying
his summons, they paddled on shore instantly, and quitted their baidar Sepc
for a small eminence near the beach, from whence they discharged a
flight of arrows, which wounded two of our seamen. 'Iheir attack was
of course returned, and one of the jmrty was wounded in the leg by a
musket ball.
Until this time they were ignorant of the effect of firearms, and
no doubt placed much confidence in the thickness of their clothing, as,
in addition to their eider-duck dress over their usual frock, they each
bound a deer-skin round them as they quitted their baidar ; but seeing
the furs availed nothing against a ball, they fled with precipitation to
the hills; and the commanding officer of the Blossom observing them
running towards the place where I was engaged with the dipping
needle, fired a gun from the ship, wliich first apprised me of any thing
being amiss. On the arrival of the cutter, I joined Mr. Belcher, and,
with a view of getting the natives into our possession, I sent a boat
along the beach, and went with a party over land. We had not proceeded
far, when suddenly four of the marines were wounded with
arrows from a small ravine, in which we found a party so screened by
long grass that it was not visible until we were close upon it. The natives
were lying upon the ground, peeping between the blades of grass,
and discharging their arrows as opportunity offered. In return, one of
them suffered by a ball from Mr, Elson ; on which I stopped the firing,
and endeavoured ineffectually to bring them to terms. After a considerable
time, an elderly man came forward with his arms and breast
covered with mud, motioning us to begone, and decidedly rejecting all
offers of reconciliation. U nwilling to chastise them further, I withdrew
the party, and towed tlieir baidar on board, which kept them
prisoners upon the island. 1 did this in order to have an opportunity
of bringing about a reconciliation, for I was unwilling to allow them to
depart with sentiments which might prove injurious to any Europeans
who might succeed us ; and I thought that by detaining them we should
be able to convjiice them our resentment was unjustifiably provoked,
and that when they conducted themselves properly, they should command
our friendship. This baidar had a large incision in her bottom.
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