OF THE POLAR SEA. 101 



visit. He first inquired, whether, in the event of 

 a passage by sea being discovered, we should 

 come to his lands in any ship that might be sent ? 

 And being answered, that it was probable but not 

 quite certain, that some one amongst us might 

 come ; he expressed a hope that some suitable 

 present should be forwarded to himself and 

 nation ; " for," said he, *' the great Cliief who 

 commands where all the goods come from, must 

 see from the drawings and descriptions of us and 

 nur country that we are a miserable people." I 

 ;i- lued him that he would be remembered, 

 })invi(led he faithfully fulfilled his engagement 

 With us. 



He next complained of the non-payment of my 

 notes by Mr. Weeks, from whence he appre- 

 hended that his own reward would be withheld. 

 " If," said he, " your notes to such a trifling 

 ani(junt are not accepted, whilst you are within 

 such a short distance, and can hold communica- 

 tion with t!i(^ fort, it is not probable that the large 

 rewar.i whicfi has hrm promised to myself and 

 ])arty. will be paid wlu-n you arc far distant, on 



