OF THE POLAR SEA. 179 



assistance of sticks. Augustus, therefore, offered 

 him his arm, which he readily accepted, and, on 

 reaching his store, he distributed pieces of dried 

 meat to each person, which, though highly tainted, 

 were immediately eaten ; this being an universal 

 token among the Indians of peaceable intention. 



We then informed him of our desire to procure 

 as much meat as we possibly could, and he told 

 us that he had a large quantity concealed in the 

 neighbourhood, which he would cause to be car- 

 ried to us when his people returned. 



I now communicated to him that we were ac- 

 companied by some Copper Indians, who were 

 very desirous to make peace with his nation, and 

 that they had requested me to prevail upon the 

 Esquimaux to receive them in a friendly manner ; 

 to which he rephed, he should rejoice to see an 

 end put to the hostility that existed between the 

 nations, and therefore would most gladly welcome 

 our companions. Having despatched Adam to 

 inform Akaitcho of this circumstance, we left 

 Terregannoeuck, in the hope that his party would 

 rejoin him ; but as we had doubts whether the 

 young men would venture upon coming to our 

 tents, on the old man's bare representation, we 

 sent Augustus and Junius back in the evening, 

 to remain with him until they came, that they 

 might fully detail to them our intentions. 



