OF THE POLAR SEA. 321 
during a conference. They assured us, however, 
of their being duly sensible of these tokens of 
our regard, and that they should be preserved 
during their lives with the utmost care. The 
chief evinced much penetration and intelligence 
during the whole of this conversation, which gave 
us a fayourable opinion of his intellectual powers. 
He made many inquiries respecting the Discovery 
ships, under the command of Captain Parry, 
which had been mentioned to him, and asked 
_ why a passage had not been discovered long ago, 
if one existed. It may be stated that we gave a 
faithful explanation to all his inquiries, which 
policy would have prompted us to do if a love 
of truth had not; for whenever these northern 
nations detect a falsehood in the dealings of the 
traders, they make it an unceasing subject of 
reproach, and their confidence is irrecoverably 
lost. 
"ae presented to the chief, the two guides, and 
who had engaged to accom- 
the seven hunters, 
some cloth, blankets, tobacco, knives, 
besides other useful iron materials, and 
also a keg of very weak spirits 
they kept until the evening, as 
before dark, and make 
commencing the 
The Indians, 
¥ 
pany us, 
daggers, 
a gun to each; 
and water, which 
they had to try their guns | 
the necessary preparations for 
journey on the following day. 
Vou. L 
