OF THE POLAR SEA. lOS 



the Company had been cancelled, and a present, 

 much greater than any he had ever received be- 

 fore, ordered to be got ready for his return. He 

 was further informed, that we were much dis- 

 appointed in not receiving any dried meat from 

 him, an article indispensable for our summer 

 voyage, and which, he had led us to believe there 

 was no difficulty in procuring ; and that, in fact, 

 his complaints were so groundless, in comparison 

 with the real injury we sustained from the want 

 of supplies, that we were led to believe they were 

 preferred solely for the purpose of cloaking his 

 own want of attention to the terms of his engage- 

 ment. He then shifted his ground, and stated, 

 that if we attempted to make a voyage along the 

 sea-coast we would inevitably perish; and he 

 advised us strongly against persisting in the 

 attempt. This part of his harangue being an 

 exact transcript of the sentiments formerly ex- 

 pressed by our interpreters, induced us to con- 

 clude that they had prompted his present line of 

 conduct, by telling him, that we had goods or 

 rum concealed. He afterwards received a por- 

 tion of our dinner, in the manner he had been 

 accustomed to do, and seemed inclined to make 

 up matters with us in the course of the evening, 

 provided we added to the present offered to him! 

 Being told, however, that this was impossible. 



