428 ARCTIC VOYAGES. ' Chap. XI. 



as they could, began a regular pillage, handing the articles 

 to the women, who, ranged in a row behind, quickly con- 

 veyed them out of sight." — p. 104. 



In short, after a furious contest, when knives were 

 brandished in a most threatening manner, several 

 of the men's clothes cut through, and the buttons of 

 others torn from their coats, Lieutenant Back or- 

 dered his people to seize and level their muskets, 

 but not to fire till the word was given. This had 

 the desired effect, the whole crowd taking to their 

 heels and hiding themselves behind the drift-timber 

 on the beach. Captain Franklin still thought it 

 best to temporise so long as the boats were lying 

 aground, for armed as the Esquimaux were with 

 long knives, bows, arrows, and spears, fire-arms 

 could not have been used with advantage against so 

 numerous a host ; Franklin, indeed, states his con- 

 viction, " considering the state of excitement to 

 which they had worked themselves, that the first 

 blood which his party might unfortunately have 

 shed, would instantly have been revenged by the 

 sacrifice of all their lives." 



As soon as the boats were afloat and making- to 

 a secure anchorage, seven or eight of the natives 

 walked along the beach, entered into conversa- 

 tion with Augustus, and invited him to a con- 

 ference on shore. " I was unwilling to let him 

 go," says Franklin, "but the brave little fellow 

 entreated so earnestly that I would suffer him to 



