PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 401 



communicate, and that the Esquimaux, who inti- chap. 

 mated to Kotzebue that a boat could proceed nine ^^ 

 days up the latter and would then find the sea, ^S*' 

 alluded to this junction ; but our rude hydrogra- 

 phers knew of no such communication ; which I 

 think they certainly would, had it existed, as by 

 pursuing that course they would have avoided a 

 passage by sea round Cape Espenburg, which in 

 deep-laden boats is attended with risk, from the 

 chance of their not being able to land upon the 

 coast. They would, at all events, have preferred an 

 inland navigation had it not been very circuitous. 



We passed the greater part of the day with these 

 intelligent people, who amused us the whole time in 

 some way or other. The chief, previous to our 

 embarkation, examined every part of our boat, and 

 was highly pleased with the workmanship, but he 

 seemed to regret that so much iron had been ex- 

 pended where thongs would have served as well. 

 He was more astonished at the weight of a sound- 

 ing lead than at any thing in the boat, never having 

 felt any metal so heavy before ; iron pyrites being 

 the heaviest mineral among this tribe. 



When we were about to embark, all the village 

 assembled and took leave of us in the usual manner 

 of the Esquimaux tribes ; and as it was probable we 

 should never meet again, the parting, much to our 

 annoyance, was very affectionate. A middle-aged 

 man, who had taken the lead throughout, and who 

 was probably their neakoa (or head-man) recom- 

 mended us to depart from these regions ; but I sig- 

 nified my intention of waiting some time longer, 

 and sleeping at least twenty nights where we were ; 

 on which he shivered, and drew his arms in from his 

 vol. i. 2d 



