140 BERING STRAIT 



recourse was had to the universal language of signs. 

 " We made a rude model of a vessel," says Lieutenant 

 Hooper, " and performed sundry antics to signify what 

 we were in search of, but could elicit no information, 

 and so set to work at obtaining observations. We con- 

 cluded that these people must have been entirely mis- 

 understood. Far from evidencing any disposition to 

 assail or molest us, they were most docile and well- 

 behaved, agreeably disappointing us in their conduct. 

 When we arrived on the hillock, all, big and little, sat 

 down around us, and I amused myself by filling their 

 pipes, becoming a great favourite immediately in conse- 

 quence. They had among them a great many knives, 

 which we feared would influence the magnet. Mr. 

 Pullen therefore kindly drew off the crowd to a dis- 

 tance, distributing among them tobacco, beads, snuff, 

 etc., and much to their credit be it said, there was 

 neither confusion nor contention, each taking his 

 allotted portion, and seeming delighted with his good 

 fortune. They took care not to come near the instru- 

 ments, finding that we did not like their approach ; one 

 or two indeed came towards us, but retired instantly 

 when laughingly motioned back, and this should be 

 considered as a display of great forbearance, inasmuch 

 as their curiosity must have been highly excited. 

 When the observations were concluded they were 

 allowed to inspect the objects of their wonder ; then 

 fast and thickly to utterance flew their expressions of 

 astonishment at the to them novel and splendid 

 instruments. The trough of quicksilver, liquid and 

 restless, especially attracted them, pleasure and wonder 

 were evident at the simple view, but when one or two 



