410 cook's VOYAGE TO AUG. 



me two fox skins, and a couple of sea-horse teeth. 

 I cannot say whether they or I made the first present ; 

 for it appeared to me, that they had brought down 

 with them these things for this very purpose ; and 

 that they would have given them to me, even though 

 I had made no return. 



They seemed very fearful and cautious ; expressing 

 their desire by signs, that no more of our people 

 should be permitted to come up. On my laying my 

 hand on the shoulder of one of them, he started back 

 several paces. In proportion as I advanced, they 

 retreated backward; always in the attitude of being 

 ready to make use of their spears ; while those on the 

 rising ground stood ready to support them with their 

 arrows. Insensibly, myself, and two or three of my 

 companions, got in amongst them. A few beads dis- 

 tributed to those about us, soon created a kind of 

 confidence ; so that they were not alarmed when a 

 few more 'of our people joined us ; and, by degrees, 

 a sort of traffic between us commenced. In ex- 

 change for knives, beads, tobacco, and other arti- 

 cles, they gave us some of their clothing, and a 

 few arrows. But nothing that we had to offer could 

 induce them to part with a spear, or a bow. These 

 they held in constant readiness, never once quitting 

 them, except at one time, when four or five persons 

 laid theirs down, while they gave us a song and a 

 dance. And even then, they placed them in such a 

 manner, that they could lay hold of them in an in- 

 stant ; and for their security, they desired us to sit 

 down. 



The arrows were pointed either with bone or stone, 

 but very few of them had barbs ; and some had a 

 round blunt point. What use these may be applied 

 to 1 cannot say ; unless it be to kill small animals, 

 without damaging the skin. The bows were such as 

 we had seen on the American coast, and like those 

 used by the Esquimaux. The spears, or spontoons, 

 were of iron or steel, and of European or Asiatic 



