VISIT FROM ESQUIMAUX. 241 



discouraged : they did not seem to comprehend nor 

 to relish our reserve. When they found that we 

 would not stop for them, nor accept their very 

 pressing invitations to land at the larger encampment, 

 on passing it, they gave up convoying us, and 

 retm-ned to their tents, it being now long past mid- 

 night. The wind had, as we feared, increased 

 greatly, raising the sea also ; and so little progress 

 was made, that the boats' heads were turned to shore, 

 and we landed at nearly three, a.m., on the 12th, 

 near Point Beecliy. Half of the party lay down to 

 sleep; the rest re-loaded the fire-arms, which had 

 nearly all become wetted from the quantity of water 

 shipped ; for it must be remembered that om* boats 

 were so small, and moreover, so heavily laden, that 

 they were quite unprotected from the most trifling 

 sea or spray, and were unsafe in a breeze. We had 

 not been here long when a large nmnber of the 

 natives came along the bank from their camp, which was 

 about two miles distant from our position. Although 

 they had apparently no weapons, we thought it 

 necessary to be on our guard, and as on a former 

 occasion, drew a line along the sand, across which 

 they were not permitted to pass. We were, indeed, 

 soon rendered still more cautious by observing among 

 the crowd the man who had given us some trouble at 



