Capi. Ross’s Voyage of Discovery. 279 
to regret the haste, from whatever cause this may have arisen, 
with which the exploration was abi andoned. 
The most prominent novelty recorded by Captain Ross, is the 
discovery of a race of men in Baffin’s Bay, never before aed 
by civilized E Europeans, and so totally unacquainted with the rest 
of the world, as to believe that to the southward of their piace of 
residence Nerd was nothing but eternal frost!—no country in 
which it would be possible for human creatures to exist! On 
this occasion Sacheuse, the Esquimaux who accompanied the 
expedition, was found very useful as an interpreter —We shall 
give the account in Captain Ross’s words : 
“ Aug. 10, 1818.— Lat. 75 deg. 55 min. N., long. 65 deg. 
32 min, W.—About 10 o’clock this day we were rejoiced to see 
eight sledges , driven by the natives, advancing by a circuitous 
route towards the place where we lay? They haited about a mile 
from us, and the people alighting, ascended a small iceberg, as if 
to reconnoitre. After remaining apparently in consultation for 
nearly half an hour, four of ies descended, and came towards 
the flagstaff, which, however, they did not venture to approach. 
In the mean time, a white flag was hoisted at the main in each 
ship, and John Sacheuse dispatched, bearing a small white flag, 
with some presents, that he might endeavour, if possible, to bring 
them to a parley. This was a service in which he had most 
cheerfully volunteered, requesting leave to go unattended and un- 
armed—a request to which no objection could’ be made, as the 
place chosen for the meeting was within half a mile ef the Isa- 
bella. It was equally advantageous to the natives, a canal or 
smail chasm in the ice, not passable without a plank, separating 
the parties from each other, «nd preventing any possibility of an 
attack from these people, unless by darts. 
In executing this service, Sacheuse displayed no less address 
than courage. Having placed his flag at some distance from the 
canal, he advanced to the edge, and tal king off his hat, made 
friendly signs for those opposite to approach, as he did; this they 
partly complied with, halting at a distance of 300 yards, where 
they got ont of their sledges, and set up a loud simultaneous 
halioo, which Sacheuse answered by imitating it. They ventured 
to approach nearer, having nothing in their hands but the whips 
with which they guide their dogs ; and after satisfying themselves 
that the canal was impassable, one of them in par ticular seemed 
to acquire confidence. Shouts, words, and gestures were ex- 
changed for some time to no purpose,though each party seemed in 
some  dlebree to recognise each other's language. Sacheuse, after 
atime, thought he could discover that they spoke the Hamook 
dialect » drawling out their words, however, to an unusual length, 
“He iminediately adopted that dialect; and holding up the pre- 
S4 sents, 
