OP THE POLAR SEA. 177 



the hope of gaining an interview with them, but 

 lest our appearance in a body should alarm them, 

 we advanced in a long line, at the head of which 

 was Augustus. We were led to their baggage, 

 which they had deserted, by the howling of the 

 dogs; and on the summit of the hill we found, 

 lymg behind a stone, an old man, who was too 

 infirm to effect his escape with the rest. He was 

 much terrified when Augustus advanced, and 

 probably expected immediate death ; but that the 

 fatal blow might not be unrevenged, he seized 

 his spear, and made a thrust with it at his sup- 

 posed enemy. Augustus, however, easily re- 

 pressed his feeble effort, and soon calmed his 

 fears by presenting him with some pieces of iron, 

 and assuring him of his friendly intentions. Dr. 

 Richardson and I then joined them, and, after 

 receiving our presents, the old man was quite 

 composed, and became communicative. His 

 dialect differed from that used by Augustus, but 

 they understood each other tolerably well. 



It appeared that his party consisted of eight 

 men and their families, who were returning from 

 a hunting excursion with dried meat. After 

 being told who we were, he said, that he had 

 heard of white people from different parties of his 

 nation which resided on the sea-coast to the east- 

 ward; and to our inquiries respecting the pro- 

 VoL. ir. N 



