CAPTAIN m'CLTTRe's DESPATCHES. 13 



their kyacks, and crossed to meet us. Hauling these hght and elegant 

 skiffs on the heach, they advanced with knives drawn and bows bent, 

 evidently prepared for hostilities. Finding by our gestures that our 

 intentions were amicable, their bows were returned to their sealskin cases, 

 but the knives they still retained. The interpreter told them that our 

 visit was friendly, and that they should put away their knives. '' Yes," 

 said they, *' when you do your guns." To be allowed to carry the 

 musket appeared a great favour, for which they presented you with their 

 knife, as a token of friendship. We remained upwards of an hour ; 

 during the greater part of the time, Mr. Miertsching was in earnest con- 

 versation with the chief — a fine, intelligent, middle-aged man — upon the 

 necessity of his forwarding our despatches to the Mackenzie, which he 

 promised most faithfully to perform, for which he was to receive a musket 

 and ammunition, and, upon his delivering the packet, a further rew^ard 

 equal in value to a silver fox-skin. He, however, said that their tribe do 

 not trade with the ^lackenzie, but with another further south, who in 

 their turn traffic with the Indians w^ho are in the service of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company ; so, as they have to pass through three tribes of the 

 heathen before they come into the hands of civilized man, I think it 

 extremely probable that they may never reach their destination. Mr. 

 Miertsching, from his knowledge of the Esquimaux character, thinks 

 otherwise, and imagines that the chief will himself carry them. The 

 perfect ease with which this gentleman understands and converses with 

 these interesting people surprises them very much ; they were most 

 anxious for him to remain, promising to be very kind. The chief pre- 

 sented his daughter, a very pretty girl of about 15, who should be his 

 wife ; tents and all appurtenances were to be added. While these nego- 

 tiations were going forward, upwards of 100 persons had descended from 

 the village ; with such a concourse I did not think it prudent to open 

 the bag containing the presents, well knowing their cupidity is easily 

 excited by the display of such valuables, when they are not to be relied 

 on. We consequently returned to the boat. When the chief was 

 instructed in the use of his gun, he showed himself an apt pupil, and 

 when the ammunition was given into his hands, expressed himself very 

 much gratified at the gift, and walked towards the village with his chief 

 men. A line was then made on the beach, which the recipients of gifts 

 were not to pass (and this they perfectly understood), and the inter- 

 preter then commenced the distribution. For a little time order was 

 maintained ; but the fair sex becoming clamorous and closing round, the 

 line was broken, and, to prevent being driven into the water, we were 

 compelled to retreat to the boat, which W' as lying aground about 20 yards 

 from the beach. By this manoeuvre, we escaped from all that had not 

 on water-tight boots, but still about 40 surrounded the cutter ; and, 

 although all the crew were stationed round her to prevent their getting 

 on board, so eager and persevering were the women that several were 

 lifted in, endeavouring to seize everything within their reach ; one of 

 them, in the most dexterous manner, slipped the compass out of its box 

 into the breast of her jacket, and with difficulty it was recovered. It 

 was only by great firmness and stoppage of the supplies that we reduced 

 them to order, or to quit the boat. The presents being at length dis- 

 tributed, and every one in good humour, we wished them farewell, and 

 commenced launching the boat, in which operation they most vigorously 

 assisted, and 17, in their fairy kyacks, escorted us to the ship, arriving 



