426 VOYAGE TO THE 



nineteen of the natives came down opposite us, arm- 

 ed with bows, arrows, and spears, and imagining that 

 Narrative - lt was our intention to land motioned us to keep off, 



oi the * 



Bar s e - and seemed quite prepared for hostilities. Some of 

 them were stripped almost naked. They preserved 

 a greater silence than we found customary among 

 them, one only speaking at a time, and apparently 

 interrogating us. Notwithstanding this show of 

 resistance, we still advanced nearer to the shore, as 

 being more out of the current and favourable to our 

 views, at the same time having the arms in readiness 

 in case of an attack. 



When within about thirty yards of the beach, we 

 lost the wind, and continued pulling and towing 

 along shore, the natives walking abreast of us upon 

 the beach. At eight p. m. we passed a village of 

 eight tents and four boats, but saw neither women 

 nor children. Whilst approaching this village, we 

 perceived the men hauling their baidars higher up 

 on the beach, fearful, as we supposed, that we should 

 molest them. Their dogs, as usual, set up a most 

 abominable yelling. About eleven our pedestrians 

 began to lag, and shortly after made a general halt, 

 watched us for a little while, and then turned back. 

 At midnight we reached Cape Smyth, and consider- 

 ing ourselves tolerably well secure from the ice (not 

 having seen any until our arrival off this point on the 

 evening before), and the crew being much tired, we 

 anchored, hoping that a few hours would bring a 

 breeze — not caring from which quarter, as we felt 

 confident that, before the ice could approach near 

 enough to block us, we should be able to reach the 

 Sea Horse Islands, where we made certain of being 

 clear. The night dark and cloudy. 



