OF THE POLAR SEA. 133 



sprung upon them whilst they were conversing 

 together. His attack was so sudden that they 

 had not time to level their guns properly, and they 

 all missed except Akaitcho, who, less confused 

 than the rest, took deliberate aim, and shot the 

 animal dead. They do not eat the flesh of the 

 bear, but knowing that we had no such prejudice, 

 they brought us some of the choice pieces, which 

 upon trial we found to be excellent meat. 



The Indians having informed us that we were 

 now within twelve miles of the rapid where the 

 Esquimaux have invariably been found, we 

 pitched our tents on the beach, under the shelter 

 of a high hill whose precipitous side is washed 

 by the river, intending to send forward some per- 

 sons to determine the situation of their present 

 abode. Some vestiges of an old Esquimaux en- 

 campment were observed near the tents, and the 

 stumps of the trees bore marks of the stone 

 hatchets they use. A strict watch was appointed, 

 consisting of an officer, four Canadians, and an 

 Indian, and directions were given for the rest of 

 the party to sleep with their arms by their side. 

 That as little delay as possible might be experi 

 enced in opening a communication with the Es' 

 quimaux, we immediately commenced the 

 rangements for sending forward persons to dis- 

 cover whether there were any in our vicinity 



