390 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, for the purpose of keeping their bows and arrows 

 — -Y-*-' dry. The natives had a great variety of articles for 

 ^826*' sale, all of which they readily parted with, except 

 their bows, arrows, and spears, and these they would 

 on no account sell. Several old men were among 

 their party, all of whom sat in the stern of the boat, 

 a deference which, as I have already said, we every- 

 where observed to be paid to age by the younger 

 part of this tribe. When they had sold all they in- 

 tended to part with, and had satisfied their curiosity, 

 they paddled on shore, well satisfied, no doubt, at 

 having escaped detection. 



The next morning the boats were sent to find 

 water and to dig wells upon Chamisso Island, as we 

 had but nine days' supply on board at very reduced 

 allowance. In the mean time I paid a visit to the 

 Esquimaux, who were on their travels towards home 

 with cargoes of dried salmon, oil, blubber, and skins, 

 which they had collected in their summer excursion 

 along the coast. When they perceived our boat ap- 

 proaching the shore, they despatched a baidar to in- 

 vite us to their encampment ; and as we rowed 

 toward the place together, observing with what faci- 

 lity they passed our boat, they applied their strength 

 to their paddles, and, exulting on the advantage 

 they possessed, left us far behind. It was perfectly 

 smooth and calm, or this would not have been the 

 case, as their boats have no hold of the water, and 

 are easily thrown back by a wave ; and when the 

 wind is on the side, they have the greatest difficulty 

 in keeping them in the right direction. 



The shallowness of the water obliged our boat to 

 land a short distance from the village ; and the 

 natives, who by this time had hauled up their 



