426 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. XI. 



tus to approach with the present held out to them. 

 Augustus then explained to them the purport of our 

 visit ; and told them that if we found a navigable 

 channel for large ships, we should come and open 

 a highly beneficial trade with them : with this 

 they were delighted, tossed up their hands aloft, 

 " raising the most deafening shout of applause I 

 ever heard/' 



Thus far all went on well ; but an accident 

 happened while the crowd was pressing round the 

 boats, which was productive of unforeseen and very 

 annoying consequences : — 



" A kaiyack being overset by one of the Lion's oars, its 

 owner was plunged into the water with his head in the mud, 

 and apparently in danger of being drowned. We instantly 

 extricated him from his unpleasant situation, and took him 

 into the boat until the water could be thrown out of his 

 kaiyack; and Augustus, seeing him shivering with cold, 

 wrapped him up in his own great coat. At first he was 

 exceedingly angry, but soon became reconciled to his situ- 

 ation, and looking about, discovered that we had many bales, 

 and other articles in the boat, which had been concealed 

 from the people in the kaiyacks, by the coverings being care- 

 fully spread over all. He soon began to ask for everything 

 he saw, and expressed much displeasure on our refusing to 

 comply with his demands ; he also, we afterwards learned, 

 excited the cupidity of others by his account of the inex- 

 haustible riches in the Lion, and several of the younger men 

 endeavoured to get into both our boats, but we resisted all 

 their attempts." — pp. 101, 102. 



They continued, however, to press, and made 

 many efforts to get into the boats, while the water 



