OF THE POLAR SEA 



353 



denominated Kichardson's Eiver,) and pass the winter in snow- 

 houses. 



After this conversation Terregannoeuck proposed going down to 

 his baggage, and we then perceived he was too infirm to walk with- 

 out the assistance of sticks. Augustus, therefore, offered him his 

 arm, which he readily accepted, and, on reaching his store, he dis- 

 tributed pieces of dried meat to each person, which, though highly 

 tainted, were immediately eaten ; this being an universal token 

 among the Indians of peaceable intention. 



We then informed him of our desire to procure as much meat 

 as we possibly could, and he told us that he had a large quantity 

 concealed in the neighbourhood, which he would cause to be carried 

 to us when his people returned. 



I now communicated to him that we were accompanied by some 

 Copper Indians, who were very desirous to make peace with his 

 nation, and that they had requested me to prevail upon the Esqui- 

 maux to receive them in a friendly manner ; to which he replied, 

 he should rejoice to see an end put to the hostility that 

 existed between the nations, and, therefore, would most gladly 

 welcome our companions. Having despatched Adam to inform 

 Akaitcho of this circumstance, we left Terregannoeuck, in the hope 

 that his party would rejoin him ; but as we had doubts whether the 

 young men would venture upon coming to our tents, on the old 

 man's bare representation, we sent Augustus and Junius back in 

 the evening, to remain with him until they came, that they might 

 fully detail to them our intentions. 



The countenance of Terregannoeuck was oval, with a sufficiently 

 prominent nose, and had nothing very different from an European 

 face, except in the smallness of his eyes, and, perhaps, in the narrow- 

 ness of his forehead. His complexion was very fresh and red, and he 

 had a longer beard than I have hitherto seen on any of the aboriginal 



inhabitants of America. It was between two and three inches long, 



2 z 



