Chap. XI. RICHARDSON'S VOYAGE TO THE EASTWARD. 441 



extend as far as the lake continues, it was expected 

 that the obstruction to their progress would cease, 

 as in the whole of this distance they had to cross 

 channels of shallow water, encumbered with 

 banks of shingle, and the water more fresh than 

 salt. 



On the 18th, sailing between some islands and 

 the main, a large party of Esquimaux rushed 

 out to the shore, brandishing their knives, using 

 threatening expressions, and forbidding them to 

 land. But on Richardson bawling out "barter/' 

 they were peaceful in a moment, and brought such 

 goods as they possessed on board — so easily are 

 savages managed by judicious treatment. 



" The females, unlike those of the Indian tribes, had 

 much handsomer features than the men ; and one young 

 woman of the party would have been deemed pretty even in 

 Europe. Our presents seemed to render them perfectly 

 happy, and they danced with such ecstasy in their slender 

 boats as to incur, more than once, great hazard of being 

 overset. A bundle of strings of beads being thrown into an 

 oomiak, it was caught by an old woman, who hugged the 

 treasure to her breast with the strongest expression of 

 rapture, while another elderly dame, who had stretched out 

 her arms in vain, became the very picture of despair. On 

 my explaining, however, that the present was for the whole, 

 an amicable division instantly took place ; and to show their 

 gratitude, they sang a song to a pleasing air, keeping time 

 with their oars. They gave us many pressing invitations to 

 pass the night at their tents, in which they were joined by 

 the men ; and to excite our liberality the mothers drew the 

 children out of their wide boots, where they are accustomed 



