NORTHERN OCEAN. VSI 
Never was reciprocity of intereft more general- 1771, 
ly regarded among a number of people, than it oS 
was on the prefent occafion by my crew, for not \ 
one was a moment in want of any thing that 
another could fpare; and if ever the fpirit of 
difinterefted friendfhip expanded the heart of a 
Northern Indian, it was here exhibited in the 
molt extenfive meaning of the word. Property 
of every kind that could be of general ufe now 
ceafed to be private, and every one who had any 
thing which came under that defcription, feemed 
proud of an opportunity of giving it, or lending 
it to thofe who had none, or were moft in want 
of it. 
The number of my crew was fo much greater 
than that which five tents could contain, and the 
warlike manner in which they were equipped fo 
greatly fuperior to what could be expected of the 
poor Efquimaux, that no lefs than a total mafla- 
cre of every one of them was likely to be the cafe, 
unlefs Providence fhould work a miracle for their 
deliverance. 
The land was fo fituated that we walked under 
cover of the rocks and hills till we were within 
two hundred yards of the tents. There we lay 
in ambufh for fome time, watching the motions 
of the Efquimaux ; and here the Indians would 
have advifed me to ftay till the fight was over, 
but to this I could by no means confent; for I 
confidered that when the Efquimaux came to be 
furprifed, they would try every way to efcape, 
and 
