Chap. II. COMMANDER JOHN ROSS. 29 



In point of fact, Ross, on the outset of the voyage, 

 even in the title-page, misstates (he could not mis- 

 take) the object? of his instructions. He says, the 

 voyage was made " for the purpose of exploring 

 Baffin's Bav." Now there is not a word in the 

 Instructions about exploring Baffin's Bay ; he was 

 to stand well to the northward before crossing over 

 to the westward, but not to stop on either coast : 

 " the first and most important object of this voyage 

 is to be the discovery of a passage through Davis's 

 Straits, along the northern coast of America." On 

 the western coast there could be no passage into the 

 Polar Sea, nor towards the coast of America. 



Opportunely, however, an event occurred which 

 afforded him an occasion, if not an excuse, for 

 delay. On the I Oth of August eight sledges, drawn 

 by native Esquimaux, were observed advancing 

 towards the place where the ships were at anchor, 

 and Saccheous was dispatched with a white flag 

 and some presents to hold a parley with them, they 

 being placed at one side of a canal or chasm in the 

 ice, and he on the other side. After loud shouts, 

 words, and gestures, Saccheous soon perceived that 

 their language was the same as his, but of a differ- 

 ent dialect ; and, holding up his presents, he called 

 out, " Come on ;" but the reply was, " No, no ; go 

 away :" and one of them approaching the edge of 

 the canal repeated, " Go away ; I can kill you," 

 holding up a knife : Saccheous threw over an 



